Music for Autism Names MATILDA's John Arthur Greene 2013 Spotlight Artist

Music for Autism is committed to improving the quality of life and raising public awareness of individuals with autism and their families through music. Autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families are held in four states. These concerts feature professional musicians, including Tony Award winners and Grammy-nominated classical artists. Interactive concerts held in Manhattan have featured artists from Broadway'sJersey Boys and Pippin, among others. To ensure equal access for all, each Music for Autism concert is fully subsidized.

John Arthur Greene performed at Music for Autism's (M4A) 2010 fundraiser at Toys"R"Us, and spotlighted at an interactive concert at the Mid Island Y as part of the Linda Rodgers Emory Concert Series. In addition, to performing eight times a week in Matilda, he recently starred as Riff in the recent Broadway revival ofWest Side Story and has an active cabaret and night club performance track record at such esteemed venues as 54 Below, Joe's Pub and the Metropolitan Room. He has a tremendous amount of creativity and the talent to captivate a wide range of audiences at M4A events, on Broadway, and beyond.

Of equal importance is his commitment to service through his performing, and Music for Autism is a charity of great interest to him. Along with performing with fellow Matilda cast members at an upcoming M4A interactive concert on September 28th in partnership with the McCarton School, he, along with several other Broadway performers, is organizing a fall fundraiser evening for M4A.

Music or Autism began the Spotlight Artist program in 2009 to recognize extraordinarily talented and gifted artists who have made a significant commitment to supporting its work. The award is given to one artist or ensemble annually and is decided on by its Musical Programming Committee. Music for Autism's first Spotlight Artist was pianist Jade Simmons who is a winner of the Concert Artist Guild competition and is responsible for M4A's expansion to Houston and now serves as our program coordinator there. The 2010 artist was trumPeter Ryan Gardner who holds a doctorate in trumpet, and recently performed with M4A in partnership with the 92Y and performed the first ever United States M4A concert in 2007. In 2011, M4A named violinist Suzy Perelman who is an exceptional musician and teacher and has an extensive track record of orchestral performances on Broadway and set new standards for the organization for interactive programs in New York. Last year, WindSync, a woodwind quintet that recently won the Concert Artist Guild competition and will make its Carnegie Hall debut this fall, was named.

For more information on Music For Autism and its Spotlight Artist program, visit www.MusicForAutism.org.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy