GroundUP Music Foundation

The 501c3 non-profit GroundUP Music Foundation curates and assembles exceptional musicians at all career stages, with great cultural diversity from all over the globe, and provides them with funding, time, and opportunities to experiment, take risks, and work with each other and with students to create collaborations that take on a life of their own, resulting in continued creative partnerships. The Foundation was born out of the annual GroundUP Music Festival, a music & education festival that produces the highest level music programs while creating free opportunities for local underserved students as well as other musicians and students with these diverse renowned artists.

GroundUP brings together a globally diverse artist community to create accessibility and exposure for all types of musical artistry, producing exceptional and unique music performances and educational programs online and at its festivals. GroundUP breaks down the barriers and connects musicians at every stage to inspire and embrace artistic talent. With culturally and ethnically diverse artists from more than 40 countries, the Festival (which is the flagship event for the Foundation), attracts thousands of people from 48 states and 54 countries, providing a global audience and exposure for artists at every level.

GroundUP provides a platform that complements the important work done by our many local partners and others that provide music education to students. It uses its massive festival and online education platforms to create free and priceless opportunities for local underserved and other students and musicians at every career stage with GroundUP's world-renowned artists (which have included Snarky Puppy, Michael McDonald, David Crosby, The Wood Brothers, Lila Downs, Buena Vista Social Club, Béla Fleck, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Robert Glasper, Lettuce, Tank & The Bangas, Christian Scott, Chris Potter, Lalah Hathaway, Buika, and many more).