CMA Foundation and Kristin Chenoweth Host High School Students for Special Q&A at Schermerhorn Sound Check

Students participating in the annual Spotlight Awards, a celebration of musical theatre in Tennessee high schools, were special guests of Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth last week during sound check prior to her performances with the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Thanks to a partnership with the CMA Foundation, a national nonprofit working to ensure every child has access to a quality music education, Chenoweth welcomed a group of high school musical theater students - part of the annual Spotlight Awards competition co-sponsored by the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Lipscomb University's College of Entertainment and the Arts - for a special sound check and a Q&A prior to her performance.

The special meeting and Q&A were facilitated by The CMA Foundation and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) to highlight the impact and importance of music education and Chenoweth shared advice with the aspiring young performers. The high school theatre students were ecstatic to receive advice and words of encouragement from the musical powerhouse.

A favorite of Nashville audiences, Chenoweth returned to Schermerhorn Symphony Center for a trio of performances with the Nashville Symphony October 27-29.

About the CMA Foundation Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested more than $21 million in over 85 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day long music festival held annually in Nashville, are used to power the CMA Foundation's social impact and unique model of giving. For more information visit CMAfoundation.org.

About the Spotlight Awards Sponsored by the CMA Foundation, the Spotlight Awards celebrate high school musical theatre, honoring the talents, collaborations, and educational endeavors of students and educators. Thirty schools from up to 10 counties take part in the annual program, a partnership between the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) and Lipscomb University's College of Entertainment and the Arts.