Dace Anderson wants you to close out the summer by eating, drinking and being merry at Dace’s Rock ‘n’ More Music Academy’s third annual fundraiser set for 4 p.m. on Aug. 27.
Dubbed the Rock ‘n’ Roll Summer Throwdown fundraiser, the event will be set on the shores of Lake Sawyer, with proceeds going to the nonprofit music school’s tuition assistance program.
“The first three years we were here, we were not a nonprofit,” Anderson said. “So, we started doing this fundraiser when we became a non-profit. It seems like it’s grown every year.”
Anderson, who is the founder and president of the music school, explained the event will be fun if nothing else.
“There will be two stages a music, an acoustic stage and an electric stage right on Lake Sawyer,” he said. “There will be a gourmet meal prepared by expert chefs. There will be beer and wine and, of course stuff for the kids to drink.”
In addition there will be a plethora of items up for grabs during the silent auction ranging from high end musical gear to a hotel stay to concert tickets, yoga sessions and more.
There will be at least a dozen bands playing, explained Arielle Young, who teaches at the school, designed the promotional poster and is in charge of details.
“There will be music throughout the day and night,” Young said.
In the first year of the event the fundraiser brought in $2,000. Last year it generated $5,000.
The money raised helps those who want to take lessons but may not be able to afford them, Anderson added.
“What it goes to mainly is the tuition assistance program,” he said. “Virtually all of that money goes toward that fund. Just the summer camps that we had was well over $1,000 in tuition assistance that we gave out.”
But, helping anyone who wants to learn how to play or sing or just get better at it, is the fundamental mission of Rock ‘n’ More whether the student is 8 years old and learning to play piano or violin or a 43-year-old mother of two who has always dreamt of starting a rock band.
So, in these tough economic times, this fundraiser is mission critical.
Anderson said he hopes the throw down raises at least as much as last year.
In the meantime, Anderson and Young are looking to other ways to bring in revenue, such as grants.
Young noted that Rock ‘n’ More had just received a grant from 4Culture.
“We’re working on a large grant application right now,” Anderson said. “We’re trying to expand the business… we’re hoping to have a performance space, a coffee shop. So, we’re working on a grant for that.”
They’ve also partnered with Maple Valley Rotary.
But on Aug. 27 the community will have a chance to support Rock ‘n’ More and Anderson suggested everyone should “bring your check book” but also be prepared to have a good time.
“Come have a party and give a bunch of money for people who couldn’t otherwise afford lessons,” he said.
