PHOENIX – The Phoenix Symphony is pleased to announce the receipt of a naming gift from PetSmart for ĦAbraze La Música! (Embrace the Music). This program provides the opportunity for inner-city youth in Phoenix to learn about music from some of the best and brightest world-class guest artists that perform with The Phoenix Symphony throughout the year. The Symphony also provides students and their families with free tickets to Symphony concerts at Symphony Hall.
“At PetSmart, we’re proud to call Phoenix home and believe in supporting organizations that improve the lives of the people in our own backyard,” said Andy Izquierdo, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for PetSmart. “We’re honored to support ĦAbraze La Música!, and look forward to seeing this program enhance our community.”
Throughout the school year, The Phoenix Symphony brings a variety of guest artists, musicians and conductors to Rosie’s House for clinics and discussions about music, including the importance of being dedicated to setting and accomplishing personal goals. After these visit, students and their families are given the opportunity to attend a Phoenix Symphony concert free of charge, often to see the artist they met and learned from performing live on stage.
“We are honored to have our esteemed ĦAbraze La Música! program supported by PetSmart,” says Jim Ward, President & CEO of The Phoenix Symphony. “The Symphony is dedicated to the advancement of music education, and as the largest performing arts organization in Arizona, it is our responsibility to help supplement music education, not just in schools, but through community engagement as well.”
The Symphony’s mission is to provide the joy of music as a catalyst in helping Arizona to become the best place in America to work and live. One of the ways this mission is accomplished is through innovative and exceptional Education and Community Engagement programs, like ĦAbraze La Música!, which impact thousands of individuals every year.
“I believe that it is the duty of all orchestras and presenting organizations worldwide to help educate future generations of musicians and music-lovers alike,” says guest violinist Philippe Quint. “The fact that the Symphony has a program like this that impacts and inspires Phoenix’s inner-city youth speaks volumes about the value of The Phoenix Symphony to this community.”
Throughout the 2013/14 Season, Phoenix Symphony musicians and guest artists lead group lessons, clinics and discussions at Rosie’s House for ĦAbraze La Música!, including violinist Philippe Quint, pianist Fabio Bidini and pianist Sean Chen.
Click here to learn more about The Phoenix Symphony's PetSmart ĦAbraze La Música!.
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About PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The company employs approximately 53,000 associates and operates more than 1,333 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, over 199 in-store PetSmart® PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities and is a leading online provider of pet supplies and pet care information (http://www.petsmart.com). PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and pet products; and offers dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp SM day care services and pet adoption services. Through its in-store pet adoption partnership with PetSmart Charities® and PetSmart Charities® of Canada, PetSmart has helped save the lives of more than 5.7 million pets since 1994. PetSmart Charities, Inc. and PetSmart Charities of Canada (collectively “PetSmart Charities”) are independent, nonprofit organizations that save the lives of homeless pets and reduce shelter intake through spay and neuter efforts. In 2013, nearly 440,000 dogs and cats found homes through PetSmart Charities’ adoption centers in all PetSmart stores and by sponsoring community adoption events. PetSmart Charities is the leader in granting money to help pets in need, with more than $34 million given in 2013 throughout North America
