Preserving Culture

Two local leaders in music and arts spearhead the launch of Music Preserves Foundation

Lillian Boyd, Dana Point Times

With the initiative to cultivate music education and inspiration in Dana Point, the nonprofit organization Music Preserves Foundation has officially launched. The foundation will connect musicians with local students and uphold the preservation of music history and culture.

Arts and Culture Commission Chair Anthony Small partnered with Patti Compton, recent public relations director for Omega Events (the entertainment production company that produces the Doheny Blues Festival) to build the organization. Compton and Small crossed paths last year during the Doheny Blues Festival. Compton had been seeking a partnership to build a nonprofit to advance music education, and Small had been ready for a career step toward giving back to the community.

“The foundation provides valuable music and arts education and cultural learning opportunities for local students and the community,” Compton said in a Music Preserves Foundation press release. “Music is about connection, and there is a great opportunity to capture the allure of the music that flows through Dana Point and use it to create educational opportunities and forge greater connection and understanding through music.”

Music Preserves Foundation has partnerships in place with festival producers and will be participating this year in the Doheny Blues Festival and the Ohana Festival (produced by Synergy Global Entertainment) to provide music history education and give students backstage opportunities.

The foundation aims to provide both a youth education program and a cultural enrichment program. The youth education program offers backstage opportunities for students to connect one-on-one with artists performing at music festivals in Dana Point. Music Preserves Foundation also offers educational opportunities through a partnership with the Capistrano Unified School District that foster an understanding of music history and scholarships for students who aspire to study music or music history.

The foundation also provides exposure in the community to music, art and cultural events, as well as speaker series. Dana Point Mayor Joe Muller has stated his support for expanding music and cultural programs within the city throughout his campaign for city council.

“Music is a huge part of Dana Point’s identity,” Muller said in a release. “Music is an art form that builds analytical skills and then allows one to express them creatively. For Music Preserves to combine that with exciting opportunities to learn about our history from a unique perspective is truly forward thinking.”

“The reception out of the gates has been tremendous because these programs that enrich communities are much needed. It’s good timing, too. There are a lot of exciting things happening in Dana Point,” Small said. “We look forward to being a conduit for our partners and stakeholders to contribute to the enrichment of the community and inspire and educate local students. By partnering with and contributing to Music Preserves Foundation, businesses can work with us to advance their missions and show the community that they are socially conscious and understand the value of arts and music education. We look forward to working together with our current and future partners to enhance our community.”

Music Preserves Foundation is a fiscally sponsored project of OneOC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to Music Preserves Foundation are tax-deductible.

For more information, visit musicpreserves.org or follow Music Preserves on Facebook and Instagram.