DAVENPORT, IOWA (February 18, 2020) — The River Music Experience (RME) is excited to announce that Great Sounds Promotions, a local nonprofit that promotes music and music education in our community through jazz concerts and workshops, is officially joining the RME family of programs.
"Part of the RME's mission is to build up our entire music community, and we've done that by hosting Great Sounds Promotions workshops and concerts for years," Tyson Danner, Executive Director of the RME, said, "But as our two organizations developed a deeper collaboration, we realized it was time to go beyond a simple partnership."
"By joining forces, we will have a greater impact on our community — and at the end of the day, that's what it's all about," said Danner. "Thanks to strong support from our donors and funders, we are in a position to support many other local music nonprofits, growing the whole music scene."
Since its creation in 2004, RME has received financial support from a variety of regional funders, including the Bechtel Trusts, the John Deere Foundation, the Regional Development Authority, the Scott County Regional Authority, and many others. RME is a funded partner of the Quad Cities Cultural Trust, which provides unrestricted operational funding.
"QCCT funding is a game-changer for our organization," said Danner. "It is one of the main reasons that we are now in a position to turn our attention toward the growth and development of the Quad Cities regional music scene — and not just our own programs."
Valerie Davis, founder and director of Great Sounds Promotions, has provided quality workshops and jazz concerts to the Quad Cities community for 25 years, and will continue to be heavily involved in the production of these events.
"This partnership means that I'll be able to focus on finding the right artists for the educational workshops and concerts, while the RME offers their expertise, financial stability, and administrative capacity to handle all the behind-the-scenes efforts." Davis said, "But I'll still be there to help all along the way."
Prior to each concert, Great Sounds provides a workshop that connects professional jazz musicians with students from local schools for a unique experience those students can't receive elsewhere. Both of these components will continue with RME's support, and will benefit from RME's strong network of schools and community groups.
RME reaches over 25,000 community members per year with education and outreach programs. Live performances in the Redstone Room and downtown Davenport courtyard reach around 12,000 annually.
The biannual Smooth Jazz Series concerts and workshops will continue under Davis's leadership. Plans are in the works to expand the program to provide more jazz concerts and education throughout the year to all ages.
For more information about the River Music Experience and Great Sounds Promotions, visit rivermusicexperience.org.
About River Music Experience
River Music Experience is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives in the Quad Cities by providing opportunities to listen, learn, and play music.
