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Contact: Kevin Thays

Phone: 608-850-3566

LAUNCHPAD MUSIC COMPETITION REACHES ITS ANNUAL PEAK

Thirteen Wisconsin Bands Compete in State Finals Competition

WAUNAKEE, Wis. (June 13, 2010) -- Launchpad, the statewide music competition for high school students in bands formed outside of school, reached its peak of the year on Saturday, June 12, as 13 finalists garage bands in the state took the stage and competed in a concert extravaganza at Wisconsin Union Theater (UW-Madison campus). Little Saint Anything of Homestead and Nicolet High Schools was named the winner with The Unconventional Forces as the alternate. A program of Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA), Launchpad celebrates the reach of music education.

The competing bands, finalists from more than 75 statewide entries, included:

Moon Jelly - Middleton High School (Funk/Jazz/Reggae/Rock)

TBT - Durand High School (Rock/Metal)

Committing Arson - Manitowoc Lincoln and Valders High Schools (Rock)

Phaze 2 - Sun Prairie High School (Rock)

Callback California - Waterford Union High School, Fox River Middle School
      (Pop Punk/Pop Core)

TSA - D.C. Everest High School (Rock)

Commercial Break - Stevens Point Area Senior High (Rock/Classic Rock)

Sleeping in the Stereo - Wisconsin Virtual School/Madison West, Madison Memorial,
      Edgewood High Schools (Alternative)

The Unconventional Forces - Milwaukee Pius XI High School (Acoustic Folk)

Last Page - Cumberland and Barron High Schools, Cumberland Middle School,
      Clear Lake Jr. High (Rock)

Orpheus - West De Pere High School (Reggae/Ska/Rock)

Stereocolor - Middleton High School (Pop/Reggae)

Little Saint Anything - Homestead and Nicolet High Schools (Rock)

This lineup was comprised of three finalist bands from each of four regional competitions, plus a “wild card” band (Phaze 2) selected from all Launchpad entries through a worldwide voting system of listeners on Broadjam.com.

"Bands participating in Launchpad have a great platform to take what they're learning, often from a school music teacher, and apply it in ways that further explore their music potential," said Kevin Thays, WSMA director of communications. At least one person from each band must be in a school music program and members must be enrolled in a Wisconsin high school and/or WSMA member school to qualify.

This year’s finalist bands experienced a touch of fame with the opportunity to learn from acclaimed Yamaha performers and recording artists in the Launchpad Music Clinics held just hours ahead of the competition. Clinics were led by Tom Brechtlein, drummer with Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter, Master of improvisation Hanah Jon Taylor and Chris Poland, guitarist with Megadeth and Damn the Machine. The public was invited to observe these clinics for free! The artists were also the judging panel for the competition.

Following the clinics, the bands competed for the state title and grand prize package consisting of the prestigious Les Paul Launchpad Award, a professional recording session at Blast House Studios in Madison and a 2010 Summerfest gig in Milwaukee on July 4 (Classic Rock Stage from 4 - 6 p.m.). Additionally, this year's winner (Little Saint Anything) gets to designate a special instrument/equipment package to their school, courtesy of Yamaha!

In the finals competition, each group plays three songs (covers or originals in virtually any style). They are evaluated by music industry professionals on expression and creativity (dynamics, ability to connect with audience/inspire enthusiasm), technique (intonation, rhythmic clarity, dexterity, vocal clarity/diction), time (ability to play in sync and "feel" style together), blend (melody, inner notes, bass, listening) and synergy (overall effect, the "wow" factor). In addition to the written evaluations, bands receive a private verbal critique.

This year, all bands advancing to the state finals automatically qualified to participate in the Summerfest Launchpad Regional Showcases, where each band plays a set on the Potawatomi Mid-Stage, one of the ground’s only covered areas, with a potential audience of 3,000 people. Each separate Launchpad Regional Showcase will be held at Summerfest from 12 - 4 p.m. on the following dates: Saturday, June 26 (Madison Regional finalists); Sunday, June 27 (Green Bay Regional finalists); Friday, July 2 (Milwaukee Regional finalists) and Saturday, July 3 (Eau Claire Regional finalists).

Launchpad is funded primarily by supporting sponsors and in-kind giving from people who believe in the benefits of music education and all that music has to offer. Sponsors for the Launchpad state finals competition included Yamaha, Charter Communications, Madison Media Institute, Nicholas Family Foundation, The Onion, WMSN FOX 47, WJJO FM, 93.1 JAMZ, The Pulse Madison 1670 AM, Maximum Ink, Broadjam, SONY, Sticha Brothers Sound, UW-Madison Visitor & Information Programs, Tall Guy Productions, Wisconsin Education Association Council, Les Paul Foundation, Tilt Media, Summerfest, Blast House Studios, Jack LeTourneau Productions, Shure Microphones and Daisy Rock Guitars. Launchpad is a WSMA program produced by Dennis Graham Associates.

For more information on Launchpad, including participation details, video footage of last year’s finals competition, all supporting sponsors, late-breaking news, etc., go to www.LaunchpadWisconsin.org. Also be sure to visit www.wsmamusic.org for more about WSMA.

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Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) is a service organization with more than 1,000 member public and private schools. Each year, more than 220,000 student participants take part in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, State Honors Music Project, State Marching Band Championships, Student Composition Project, Launchpad and Concert Festivals. WSMA, also owner and operator of the Wisconsin Center for Music Education, is governed by a board of directors made up of superintendents, principals and other officers from all over our state. WSMA believes music is a basic human need and that all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.