Playback - Winter 2008 - (Page 29) NAMM Participates in the International Music Council’s General Assembly in Beijing kEY DECISIoNS MADE AT IMC’S 32ND GENERAl ASSEMBlY WIll PAVE ThE WAY FoR hElPING ThE DEVEloPMENT AND PRoMoTIoN oF DIVERSE MUSIC. In October, NAMM took part in the International Music Council’s (IMC) 32nd General Assembly in Beijing, China; this meeting featured important strategy development and Council elections. NAMM was a primary sponsor of the event, after joining IMC a year ago as the first organization of its kind to be admitted into the membership. Drawing on IMC’s mission to provide exceptional value to its members by building knowledge, creating networking opportunities, supporting and enhancing the visibility of projects that help sustain participation in music, IMC will carry out seven strategic objectives decided on at the Assembly through advocacy, research, policy formation and capacity-building. The General Assembly also held elections for IMC positions; Mary Luehrsen, NAMM’s director of public affairs and government relations, was elected to the Board for a two-year term. For more information about the General Assembly or IMC, visit www.unesco.org/imc. International Spotlight: Guitarras Manuel Rodriguez and Sons ThE RoDRIGUEz FAMIlY REAChES oUT To WoRlD lEADERS To hElP PRoMoTE ThE MUSIC PRoDUCTS INDUSTRY AND ITS MESSAGE. Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. and his family’s classical guitar luthier business is in its third generation of creating these instruments of Spanish culture. Since 1905, the family has been building guitars in its Toledo, Spain-based workshop—and now they are building a legacy as a family committed to music education. Rodriguez is sharing his guitars and his views on the importance of music education with dignitaries around the world. In the past year, he has presented Rodriguez classical guitars to the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I; President of China, Hu Jintao; Prince Radu of Romania; President of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik Ilves; the Ambassador of Japan in Spain, Motohide Yoskikawa; the Ambassador of Spain in China; President of Uruguay, Tabare Vazquez; President of Romania, Traian Basecu; and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. “Our intention with these events with presidents around the world is to explain the culture of Spain with the Spanish classical guitar, and to involve music in education and other institutions in their countries,” says Rodriguez. “The message we give each time is to express peace and music education for their countries, and support foundations with auctions using our guitars, as the Carter Foundation does.” The family’s legacy—as both creators of guitars important to the Spanish culture and as advocates for the music industry’s message—continues; they have plans to meet with more leaders in the coming months. “We are sharing the message of the importance of music for the world and the music industry,” says Rodriguez. “I hope all this helps to add value to our wonderful music industry.” For more information about Guitarras Manuel Rodriguez and Sons, log on to www.guitars-m-r-sons.com. WINTER 2008 29 http://www.unesco.org/imc http://www.guitars-m-r-sons.com
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