NASHVLLE – CMA Award winner and multi-instrumentalist Hunter Hayes officially opened a new multimedia exhibit celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards Monday at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.
The exhibit features instruments on display from former CMA Musicians of the Year Roy Clark, Jerry Douglas, Mac McAnally, and Mark O’Connor, as well as recorded performances by Alison Krauss, Barbara Mandrell, and Dolly Parton, celebrating the music makers.
Hayes was joined by siblings Rosaria and Salvatore Papandrea, who are students at Rosie’s House, a CMA Foundation beneficiary that provides classical musical instruction to underserved children. The brother/sister pair performed “Gavotte,” a composition by P. Martini. Board members and staff from the Phoenix Conservatory of Music, also a CMA Foundation beneficiary, were in attendance.
Since 2006, CMA and the CMA foundation have donated $13.7 million to quality, sustainable music education initiatives across the country, touching the lives of one million students. For more information, visit CMAfoundation.org.
On Sunday night, McAnally, who has been named CMA Musician of the Year eight consecutive times, got a sneak preview of the exhibit before performing in the Museum’s musical theater.
“The 50th Annual CMA Awards” airs Wednesday, Nov. 2 live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood return to host Country Music’s Biggest Night™.
For more information, visit CMAawards50.com.
