Recapping a Busy Summer for MPTF with Sponsored Performances, Scholarships, and Partnerships

September 1, 2026

Greg Linn  -  Trustee, Music Performance Trust Fund

by Greg Linn, Trustee, Music Performance Trust Fund

The past few months have been very active for the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF) team. We’ve detailed some of the highlights here.

America’s 250th Birthday

To commemorate America’s 250th birthday, MPTF brought live music into the celebration, supporting 194 performances in 60 cities across the United States and investing nearly $400,000 in live music. From all four corners of the country, AFM musicians took the stage at community celebrations large and small, helping mark the milestone through admission-free music.

Local 369 (Las Vegas, NV): A Three-Part Celebration of American Music—The America250 Celebration Concerts showcased American music through a three-part July Fourth weekend series. The Elegance Quartet opened with patriotic tunes and classic American compositions, followed by an Independence Day eve performance of classic American jazz from Audley Reid and his quintet. Local 369’s Simply Bob Septet closed out the weekend with Jazz: A True American Art Form, celebrating the distinctly American musical tradition through performances by acclaimed veteran musicians.

Local 123 (Richmond, VA): American History Through Music—America250 performances brought American history and music together. The Jazz Warriors recreated the spirit of a Revolutionary era fife and drum corps ahead of a reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by the national anthem, and a set of jazz-inspired patriotic favorites. The celebration continued with the Derby Day Dixieland Jazz Band, which took residents, families, and friends at Hathaway Tower on a musical journey from 1776 through 2026. Dressed in traditional New Orleans attire, the ensemble blended Dixieland and Mardi Gras traditions with patriotic selections, spanning 250 years of American history through music.

Local 389 (Orlando, FL): American Music in Every Form—Five America250 performances showcased the breadth of the American musical tradition—from Violectric’s high-energy Tribute to American Rock Bands and Vivacity’s nostalgic Patriotic Salute, to Sestina Quattro’s exploration of Americana for flute ensemble and Dolce Quattro Saxophone Quartet’s SaxAmerica. The celebration culminated on July 4 with a free big band concert from Licorice Sticks Entertainment, bringing professional musicians and community members together in a program celebrating American heritage, unity, and community pride.

Scholarships

The Music Performance Trust Fund awarded $181,500 in scholarships to 135 students through its Music’s Future and Music Family scholarship programs this year.

These students represent the next generation of musicians and music advocates across the US and Canada, pursuing their education while carrying forward a shared connection to the professional music community. Through these scholarships, MPTF reaffirms its commitment to investing in the students, families, and future professionals who will shape what comes next.

“As someone striving to make a change in the music industry and continue the legacy that my parents have created for me,” states Kai Wright, child of an AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) member and recipient of a Music Family Scholarship. “I am truly grateful for this scholarship and the American Federation of Musicians. Thank you for helping me take this next step.”

New Partnerships

As we continue to grow and progress, our team is excited to welcome some new partners into the MPTF fold.

Music Will: Focused on transforming music education in the US, Music Will is the largest not for profit music program operating in the public school system. Over the past 20 years, they have reached more than 1.8 million students across all 50 states. By helping educators bring modern, culturally responsive music into their classrooms, they create space for students to feel confident, connected, and free to express their own creativity.

We recently collaborated with Music Will to launch music programming in 12 public schools, culminating in Philadelphia’s Modern Band programs. Prior to the concert, six musicians performed for the students, before splitting into breakout learning groups to teach drum, vocal, piano, guitar, and bass parts for “Love Train” by the O’Jays. Students joined the union musicians again in performing this piece as the grand finale, creating a one-of-a-kind coaching, mentoring, and performance experience.

Preservation Hall: Since its founding in 1961, Preservation Hall has been dedicated to preserving New Orleans music traditions. From its inception, the venue has fostered a community of inclusion, committed to the preservation of New Orleans jazz and to caring for elder musicians. Music education is at the core of their mission to protect, preserve, and perpetuate jazz heritage. Passing on the knowledge of this music to the next generation of New Orleans musicians is a primary focus of the Preservation Hall Foundation.

We began our collaboration with this wonderful organization via their “Kids in the Hall” program, where students are brought into this historic venue with the unique opportunity to hear the Preservation Hall Band, and have a Q&A session with members of the Preservation Hall Collective. We look forward to supporting their community concerts, which provide a range of free performances in the Greater New Orleans area for communities with limited access to Preservation Hall due to distance, economics, or other circumstances. These free family concerts are performed by members of the Preservation Hall Collective.

Road Recovery: Established in 1998, Road Recovery is a music industry driven nonprofit dedicated to helping young people as they battle addiction and other adversities in their lives. Road Recovery strives to empower students to identify, express, and amplify their voices in hopes of affecting positive change in themselves and their community. We are proud to support this organization that empowers young people through music, while helping them develop healthy life skills and resilience. Road Recovery’s inspiring mission closely aligns with our own.

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