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Music in Schools Today Announces Arista Network's Kelyn Brannon As Board Chair
[July 22, 2014]

Music in Schools Today Announces Arista Network's Kelyn Brannon As Board Chair


SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)--

Music In Schools Today (MUST), a San Francisco music education non-profit, today announced the appointment of Arista Networks chief financial officer Kelyn Brannon as board chair. Brannon is a 20-year veteran in financial services and former CFO of Amazon's international division.

Kelyn's appointment coincides with the expansion of MUST's music integration programs, which offer best practices in integrating science, math and the arts. This includes a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math), an evolution of traditional STEM education initiatives.

A 2013 study released by the National Endowment for the Arts http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/Arts-At-Risk-Yoth.pdf reported 93 percent of STEM graduates had some form of musical training in their lives, compared to only 34 percent of average adults. Music is one of the best, proven ways to integrate learning during the school day.



Brannon stated: "As budgets for educational music programs continue to disappear, the programs offered by Music In Schools Today are more critical than ever. We must address the unmistakable contribution the arts provide to future scientists and technologists. I'm excited to oversee MUST's new STEAM initiative and the expansion of our national Head Start pilot Music First! These initiatives drive an aggressive capital campaign for 2014-2015."

Doug Milliken, vice president of global brand development for The Clorox Corporation, will serve as board co-chair with Brannon. Milliken (News - Alert) has served as co-chair with MUST since 2008, overseeing the creation of a new strategic plan and the implementation of all of MUST's programs. At Clorox, Milliken is responsible for building the company's brand, building capability and implementing across a global portfolio of brands. He brings a wealth of expertise to a company that boasts revenues of over $4 billion annually.


MUST is also proud to announce that their newest board member, Steve DiNardo, vice president of sales and market manager for Entercom Communications in San Francisco, is taking on the role of CFO. Entercom is one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the US and operates four San Francisco radio stations. Entercom stations are renowned for their commitment to improving their communities, providing over $100 million in annual support for local charitable organizations.

"Kelyn's leadership is well-known in the finance, technology and investor relations communities," says Meg Madden, executive director for MUST. "Her board leadership, in partnership with Doug, Steve and the entire board, will ensure expansion of our rich variety of music programs to serve a critical mass of low-income and at-risk children in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, as well as our successful debut in on-line education."

About Music In Schools Today

Founded in 1983, MUST builds long-term relationships with districts and schools serving low-income children. MUST brings children the joys of music making, offering substantial teacher and artist training in curriculum integration, hand-tailoring programs to school needs, networking them with community resources, reaching over 28,000 pre-K 12 children and youth annually. MUST supports and develops integrated, accessible, sustainable and measurable music education programs that improve student achievement. Despite extensive research indicating that music instruction supplies intellectual, emotional and physical components critical to children's development, music and arts programs are often the first victims of budget cuts. MUST combats this trend with a comprehensive set of programs that are resistant to budget slashing. MUST conducts research and development and advocates to restore music as an essential principle of education.


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