Category: News || By Submitted Report

A longtime city-based business is playing a role this week in America's largest marching band competition and festival.

Mark Despotakis, director of market development for Progressive Music Company, is one of the moderators of a panel discussion on the future of music education.

The discussion will be held at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) tomorrow during the four-day-long Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.

Aimed at musicians, music students, teachers, parents and anyone else interested in music education, the panel discussion sponsored by the SupportMusic Coalition will be broadcast live nationwide on the Internet.

"It's an honor to moderate this event," Despotakis said. "We're going to be surrounded by some of our nation's best students performing in Lucas Oil Stadium. We're going to be talking about the importance of music education and talking about how we can all spread that message in our communities."

Recently named one of the top 100 dealers in the nation by the National Association of Music Merchants, Progressive has been part of the SupportMusic Coalition since 2006. Despotakis currently serves on its steering committee.

Despotakis and fellow moderator Dee Jones, chair of the National PTA's Diversity Committee, will host a discussion with Tim Lautzenheizer of Attitude Concepts for Today; Eric Martin, executive director of Music for Hall; Michael Butera of the National Association for Music Education; and Greg Ballard, mayor of Indianapolis.

The Bands of America Grand Nationals are recognized as one of the world's premier events for high school marching bands. Over the next few days, expert judges from across the country will select the nation's top 12 bands to compete in a championship final this Saturday. The winning band receives an automatic invitation to participate in the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

Founded in 1947 by the late Ed Garbett, Progressive Music now provides instrument sales, rental and repairs as well as music and other services to school districts and musicians throughout the tri-state area.

Progressive Music also advocates for music education each year in Washington, D.C., said Despotakis, who travels to Capitol Hill each year with other music industry professionals to advocate for music education funding.

(Editor's Note: This story was written entirely from press releases provided by Progressive Music Company. No editorial control was exercised by Progressive Music and no remuneration or compensation was received for printing this press release.)

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