Ben Folds Composes Keys to Music City Fundraising Campaign

Ben Folds was one of the many Nashville musicians who lost instruments and other equipment after a historic flood deluged much of Middle Tennessee in May 2010. After wondering what to do with his flood-ravaged piano, which had been housed at the storage facility Soundcheck Nashville, Ben decided to turn a negative into a positive by salvaging and autographing keys from the piano to initiate a campaign benefitting the Nashville Symphony.

Autographed keys will be available to the public for a minimum donation of $88 each. Personally signed by Ben, these collectible keys can be purchased at bit.ly/BenFoldsKeys. All funds raised will go to the Nashville Symphony’s Annual Campaign, which supports the orchestra’s artistic and educational programs.

This isn’t the first time that Ben has used his talents in support of the Nashville Symphony. In November 2010, he played a benefit concert to help raise money for the orchestra, whose concert hall, Schermerhorn Symphony Center, sustained nearly $40 million in damages in the flood. This campaign is timed with the launch of Ben’s new album, The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective... which was also inspired by his experience in the flood. He assembled the collection after sifting through archival tapes that had been damaged at Soundcheck Nashville. The album is set for release on Tuesday, October 11, on the Sony Legacy label.

9:30 a.m.  Singer-songwriter-pianist Ben Folds speaks

9:37 a.m.  Nashville Symphony Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero speaks

9:45 a.m.  Q & A with Ben and Giancarlo

9:50 a.m.  Photo opportunity with the artists 

WHERE: Ben’s Studio, 30 Music Square West, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37201