Local Teen Rockers Compete in Battle of the Bands

The following press release was sent in to Patch by Doug Walker, representing Riley Road:

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) has announced that local band is competing in the online round of the 2011-2012 SchoolJam USA teen battle of the bands competition.

Starting Nov. 1, local band Riley Road will be featured along with teen bands from across the United States at www.schooljamusa.com, where people from the general public are encouraged to vote for their favorite band everyday. Online voting will run through Nov. 30.

The nationwide contest, sponsored by NAMM, is designed to encourage teen bands across the United States to demonstrate their musical talents and enjoy the many proven benefits of making music.

If Riley Road receives one of the highest eight scores, determined by the public vote and a panel of music judges, they will be invited to perform live along with seven other bands as finalists at the SchoolJam USA finals. The finals will be held during the NAMM Show, one of the largest musical products exhibitions in the world, on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2011, in Downtown Disney located in Anaheim, Calif.

Reinforcing the competition’s mission to encourage active music making among teenagers, all of the eight finalist bands will receive prize money to purchase new gear for their band from a local NAMM Member music products retailer of their choice, as well as additional funding for their school music programs. The winning band will also travel to Europe next year to perform at the 2012 SchoolJam Germany finals in Frankfurt.

“NAMM continues to support the inspiration that playing music can provide teens today through the SchoolJam USA program,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO. “Now in its third year, we have seen how this program has continued to showcase the musical talents of teens across the country and support valuable school music education programs that often serve as the gateway for many to play music for a lifetime.”

Riley Road is the dynamic blues-rock trio featuring 15-year-old guitarist Nick Cianci, a student at Great Valley High School, 15-year-old bassist Brandon Walker, a student at Owen J. Roberts High School, and 13-year-old drummer Isaiah Weatherspoon, a student at Renaissance Academy.  The trio has been playing locally over the last year and has started to gain some local recognition.  You can see and hear more from this band at www.rileyroad.com.   You can vote for Riley Road in this competition by going to http://www.schooljamusa.com/bands/riley-road.

SchoolJam is an established music initiative, originally developed by MusikMedia Germany to promote popular and rock music in schools throughout Germany. The program has provided thousands of music-loving young adults with the opportunity to perform and network with their peers, increasing their love for playing music and encouraging them to become active musicians.

In the United States, NAMM has collaborated with many partners and sponsors to produce SchoolJam USA, following two successful years of SchoolJam Texas, produced by NAMM and the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) in 2007 and 2008, in conjunction with the original SchoolJam in Germany. The SchoolJam USA competition is currently sponsored by NAMM and its promotional partners MENC, School of Rock, Channel One News, In Tune Partners, LLC, TakeLessons, the Vans Warped Tour, the John Lennong Education Tour Bus, Music for All, Drum Corps International, SchoolJam Germany, SupportMusic, and NAMM’s Wanna Play? campaign. 

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM is the sponsor of the Wanna Play? campaign, a public awareness initiative designed to get more people connected with the proven benefits of playing music. For more information about Wanna Play?, please visit wannaplaymusic.com. For more information about NAMM, please visit namm.org.