Chris Mann Teams Up With Retailer MUSIC & ARTS for the Holidays

FREDERICK, MD -

Announcement Highlights:

• New PHANTOM, former The Voice finalist and Yamaha Artist, Chris Mann helps support music education
• Sneak peek at exclusive Black Friday deals
• Special Bruno Mars Fender guitar sweepstakes announced

During the holidays, musical products compete with more traditionally popular items such as video games, toys and more. As holiday shoppers rush to retail stores across the country to find the perfect holiday gift, Music & Arts, the largest school music retailer and music lesson provider in the country, will advocate for giving the gift of music.

The company will promote music education with the help of "The Phantom," former The Voice finalist and Yamaha artist, Chris Mann. Mann rose to fame as Christina Aguilera's finalist on NBC's season 2 of The Voice. Beginning November 25 at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Mann will portray the man behind the mask, "The Phantom," in the new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, now on national tour.

"Music education continues to be underfunded despite overwhelming evidence linking the arts to student achievement and success," said Mann. "Anything we can do to help keep music alive, like keeping music in schools and music stores open so kids can get inspired is really important."

Customers can visit any of Music & Arts' more than 135 locations for instruments, music lessons, repairs and more.

"There is nothing that beats coming into our stores, holding an instrument and learning how to play one," said David Fuhr, Vice President of Sales and Real Estate for Music & Arts. "Even if you prefer to purchase gifts online, our newly enhanced website will feature more than 50,000 products for all your musical needs. Giving the gift of music can do more than a new toy or video game trend; it creates something that can last a lifetime."

Music & Arts' holiday campaign will be publicized through its retail stores, online and through their holiday catalog, which will feature close to 500 products and will be distributed to about 500,000 people nationwide beginning this week. Additionally, the catalog will offer a sneak peek of the company's Black Friday weekend deals and will announce an exclusive sweepstakes featuring a Fender guitar autographed by GRAMMY award winning music artist, Bruno Mars.

For more information, visit MusicArts.com/ChrisMann or MusicArts.com/GiftGuide

ABOUT MUSIC & ARTS
The first Music & Arts, run by founder Benjamin O'Brien, opened in 1952 and was located in a small house in Bethesda, MD. Still run by the O'Brien family today, Music & Arts now has more than 500 retail and affiliate locations, about 120 educational representatives and roughly 27,000 lesson students making it the nation's largest school music retailer and lesson provider. Now based in Frederick, MD, the company of trained musicians offers friendly service for everything musical in your life including instruments, lessons, rentals and repairs. Visit MusicArts.com for more information.

ABOUT CHRIS MANN
Mann rose to fame as Christina Aguilera's finalist on NBC's season 2 of The Voice. Since the show, his debut album, Roads, hit #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers Chart. Chris has performed on numerous shows including: Ellen, The Today Show and Conan as well as with the National Symphony for President Obama, at Christmas in Rockefeller Center. Chris is currently fulfilling his Broadway ambitions by starring as the title role in the national touring production of The Phantom of the Opera. His recordings and more can be found at ChrisMannMusic.com

The following files are available for download:

• PDF
• Chirs Mann and Christina Aguilera performing "The Prayer" on The Voice
• Chris Mann advocates for giving the gift of music during the holiday season.
• 2014 MusicArts Holiday Gift Guide Catalog Cover featuring Chris Mann