5th Annual Danny Awards Event Program

Lead Sponsor: Rene Plessner A Stage for World-Class Artists The Town Hall, Saturday October 19, 2024

In 2006, Daniel’s Music Foundation was founded by the Trush Family to empower individuals with disabilities through music. Since inception, we have witnessed firsthand the wonderful talents of count- less musicians and have provided them with performance opportunities to share their gifts with others. But we wanted to do more - something that would have an impact beyond the four walls of our music center in NYC. In 2020, The Danny Awards were born - an annual, global award show that celebrates musicians with disabilities and recognizes their incredible contributions to the world of music. We cannot wait for you to meet this year’s Award Winners. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

Thank you to our Lead Sponsor – René Plessner

The Danny Awards is an event that would not be possible without the love and support of so many. As we celebrate the 5th Annual Danny Awards, we remain eternally grateful to our Lead Sponsor René Plessner for his continuous commitment to musicians with disabilities. His generosity and encouragement are unparalleled and have provided a platform to recognize the exceptional talent of our community. Thank you!

Special Thanks To:

The Danny Awards judges for your time, talents, and commitment in selecting our Award Winners. Your efforts have helped shape the musicians of the future.

Alex Alexander: Drummer/Percussionist/Producer/Composer Dina Fanai: Artist/Songwriter/Producer John Bayless: Composer/Pianist Alyson Cambridge: Singer/Model/Producer/Actor Nick Cucci: Senior Executive Director: Recording Academy New York Chapter

George Dennehy: Just Call My By My Name Label Artist 2020 & 2023 Danny Award Winner Richard Gottehrer: Songwriter/Producer/Co-Founder: The Orchard, Owner: Instant Records Robbie Harte: International Country Music Artist Bob Kinkel: Co-Creator & Producer: Trans-Siberian Orchestra Jason Kupperman: Talent Agent

Our Board of Directors, Advisory Council, Management Team and Staff, whose passion and tenacity has allowed us to grow and serve more people. All our donors and supporters who generously allow us to continue to grow and do what we love. Everyone who submitted a performance video for consideration; thank you for sharing your musical gifts with us. Welcome to The Danny Awards community and please continue to keep music in your life. Everyone here today (both in person and online) for helping to make this meaningful, iconic event possible.

Our Danny Awards Sponsors:

Thank you to all our sponsors for your generosity and commitment to cultivating a mutual understanding, appreciation, and respect for individuals of all abilities through music. Your impact extends well-beyond The Danny Awards, providing more free music programs to deserving members of our community.

Logos for: Bethel Woods Center for The Arts, The Far Fund, The Orchard, Ponce Bank, The New York Chapter of the Recording Academy, Stack Adapt

Let It Roll On- Lefty Williams Band Opening Remarks - Carla Sullivan, DMF Marketing & Disability Awareness Director and Emcee Luminescence - Brian King Joseph Welcoming Remarks - The Trush Family – DMF Co-Founders The Danny Awards Lead Sponsor - René Plessner

My Prayer For You - Daniel Trush & Gerry Powers Featuring The Dalton School Chorus Running Up That Hill - Rachael Leahcar One More - The Resilient Send It On Down - The Blind Boys of Alabama Moulin - Barabás Lőrinc Clown - Ruth Lyon Unbreakable - Just Call Me By My Name Label Artist – Iolanta Your Moment - Just Call Me By My Name Label Artist – George Dennehy All Over The World - Philippe Bouchard Anyone But Me - Gifted Hands Lightning – Marna Michele Closing Remarks - The Trush Family Senseless - Corevalay 50 Million Reasons - Daniel Trush & Gerry Powers Featuring The Dalton School Chorus

The Blind Boys of Alabama These artists are recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music. Celebrated by The NEA and The Recording Academy with Lifetime Achievement Awards, inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and winners of six GRAMMY® Awards, they have attained the highest levels of achievement in a career that spans over 70 years. The Blind Boys have crossed multiple musical boundaries with remarkable interpretations of traditional gospel favorites to contemporary spiritual material. Visit blindboys.com for more music.

Philippe Bouchard New Brunswick, Canada native, Philippe Bouchard, began playing piano by ear at 4 years old and soon developed a passion for music. After learning to read and write in braille, Bouchard taught himself guitar and began composing original music and lyrics.

He believes with his whole heart that music is the instrument that brings everyone together. In 2019, he released the album, Le Petit Gars Aveugle (“The Little Blind Boy”), and he has a second album in the works. You can listen to Bouchard’s debut album on Amazon Music.

Corevalay New Jersey-based band, Corevalay, makes high-intensity music that shines bright with melodic vocals and incredibly contagious guitar riffs. Writing mostly about human struggles and perseverance, Corevalay’s songs are infectious and memorable, and their live performances have audiences captivated from the beginning to the end. Corevalay grabs you with their stage presence and makes you raise your fists, ready to rock! Listen to their music @Corevalay on YouTube.

Gifted Hands Gifted Hands, born Immanuel Mitchell, is a musician and songwriter from Virginia who makes motivational and inspirational music beloved by adults and children alike. By drawing inspiration from his real-life experiences, Immanuel hopes his music will give others the insight they need to become the best version of themselves. Follow his journey @imgiftedhands on Instagram.

Brian King Joseph Brian is an electric violin virtuoso and neuropathy warrior. A fan favorite from America’s Got Talent, Joseph is known for his fiery performances where he blends virtuosic violin playing with elements of hip-hop, EDM, and rock. Despite living with a severe nerve condition affecting his hands and feet, Joseph continues to inspire audiences and redefine boundaries. You can listen to his music on YouTube.

Rachael Leahcar Rachael shot to fame after placing third on the inaugural season of The Voice Australia. Since then, she has released five top 10 charting albums, toured a live show about her life, and appeared on television countless times. Rachael's dynamic vocals will give you goosebumps and stir the soul. A new graduate and mum to 10-month-old, Eli, Rachael has shown she is capable of achieving anything, despite being legally blind. Check out @rachaeleahcar on YouTube for more music.

Barabás Lőrinc Barabás is a Hungarian trumpeter and composer who has been a leading figure in Budapest’s improvisational music scene for nearly two decades. With 12 albums to his name, Lőrinc blends jazz, electronic, and neoclassical influences in his work. His latest solo album, 22, showcases a minimalist, melancholic style reminiscent of Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds. Known for his dynamic live performances, Lőrinc continues to push the boundaries of contemporary music. Visit barabaslorinc.com to learn more.

Ruth Lyon Ruth is a British multi-instrumentalist, singer, activist, and composer living in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She has performed at Glastonbury and SXSW, toured Europe, and had songs featured on BBC Radio, television, film, and theatre; most notably the end-credit song of the Hollywood blockbuster, Ocean’s 8. Lyon has performed and spoken in the House Of Lords on behalf of The Glass- house, and she is an ambassador for Attitude is Everything and RAMPD. Visit ruthlyonmusic.com to learn more.

Marna Michele Marna is a singer/songwriter based in Orange County, California. She has independently released music over the last 8 years and was featured on American Idol in 2020, among many more accomplishments. Michele was born with a rare disability, arthrogryposis, and uses her disability as motivation to make a name for herself in the music industry. You can listen to her original music on all streaming platforms.

The Resilient Three-fifths of The Resilient is composed of severely wounded U.S. combat veterans, who focus on writing and performing music that reflects the inspirations and hardships they've experienced in their civilian lives and military careers. The Resilient’s rare combination of artistic freedom and military history amplifies their message of hope and perseverance. True to their name, they exist in defiance of limitations associated with their physical circumstances and have overcome the unthinkable. Check out theresilientband.com to learn more.

Lefty Williams Band Lefty is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer/ songwriter, and composer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Lefty was born with an incomplete right arm and at 6 years old, he designed a guitar pick using the harness of an old prosthetic. He spent his youth cultivating his skills before forming the Lefty Williams Band, with whom he has toured internationally for 10 years and put out three studio albums. Check out leftywilliamsmusic.com for more information.

Founded in 2006 by the Trush Family, Daniel’s Music Foundation is a non-profit organization that provides access to music for people with disabilities. Our free Expressive Arts Program, which includes in-person and online events, combats isolation through socialization, builds confidence and self-esteem through performance,

and promotes overall health and wellness. Since inception, we have offered 15,000 free, in-person classes at our music center in NYC. Our online program continues to grow with participants from 37 states in the US, and 10 cities in Canada attending our classes and events.

Driven by our passion and commitment to help build a more equitable future for artists with disabilities, we created two platforms to showcase their talent. Just Call Me By My Name® is a boutique record label that promotes uplifting and positive music through videos, performance opportunities and concerts. The Danny Awards, our annual, global award show recognizes the incredible contributions of artists with disabilities to the world of music.

Each July, using music as the great equalizer, we unite individuals of all abilities at our one-day, all-encompassing music festival that celebrates Disability Pride Month - Hello Inclusion: A Festival of Possibilities. The event is hosted at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (the original site of Woodstock 1969). It includes performances by our record label artists on the Horizon Stage, as well as community-building activities like dance parties, drum circles, and accessible instrument demos, bringing everyone together as one. As an organization we are passionately committed to changing perception and diminishing isolation for individuals with disabilities. To learn more about Daniel’s Music, please visit www.danielsmusic.org.

Eighteen years ago, DMF was founded on the premise that music is a right, not a privilege – and today that belief still holds true. Put simply, we exist to bring individuals with disabilities together through music, wherever they are most comfortable, at no cost to them. All music programs are designed to bring the expressive arts to life with a focus on socialization, building self-confidence, and promoting overall health and well-being.

Our state-of-the-art, custom-built music center in East Harlem is where we call home. It is the heart of the Foundation and the place where our mission comes to life. This modern, brightly lit, 8,700 square foot barrier-free facility houses five music studios, a recording studio, sound booth, and a fun cafe serving up snacks and beverages, appropriately named, Snackappella!

Launched in 2020, in response to the global pandemic, the DMF Online Community is a place where individuals of all abilities can learn, connect, and celebrate the joy of music together, regardless of where they live. Online programs include live classes, plus events like dance parties, open mic nights and sing-alongs.

Our DMF On-Demand Channel houses a library of 250+ videos and growing. Here members of our community can enjoy music on their own schedule, in the comfort of their own home. Want to stay connected? Scan the QR code to get updates delivered in your inbox. To learn more visit danielsmusic.org/music-programs or contact Nadine McNeil at nadine@danielsmusic.org

Since 2006, the Trush Family has dedicated their lives to effectuate positive change and impact through the work of the Foundation. Their skills and experience have allowed them, along with the management team and staff, to create a culture of serving others. Ken has a background in business, finance, and operations, Nancy is a former early childhood teacher, and Michael works with children, adolescents and adults as a neuropsychologist. And of course, there is Danny... Daniel’s perseverance to reclaim a meaningful life after one of his five brain aneurysms burst at the age of 12 (an injury which he has never allowed to define him as a person), has helped create the spirit of the Foundation. He is a singer/ songwriter and the life force that drives DMF. He also serves as the key ambassador for our mission – and a living example of acceptance, kindness, and joy.

Inclusion In Action

To further our commitment to creating a more equitable future for people with disabilities, Daniel’s Music Foundation is building meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with corporations. As an organization, we can serve as a unique extension of corporate DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) initiatives through the lens of disability. There are a variety of ways we can engage with companies, each of which have a real-life impact. All profits support our free in-person and online music programs for people with disabilities.

Disability Awareness Presentations

Our Disability Awareness presentations focus on relevant disability topics and trends including digital accessibility, brand loyalty, employment, and recent legislation that impacts everyday business practices. This meaningful program also advocates for further inclusion and understanding of our community through relevant personal stories, videos, and of course, music.

Artist engagement from our record label can uniquely illustrate a company’s commitment to inclusion through the universal language of music. Concerts and performances, using our catalog of positive and uplifting music in TV commercials and videos, or creating a custom song for a project are just some of the ways a company can bring their DEI initiatives to life.

With high profile disability events like The Danny Awards and Hello Inclusion, companies can gain positive exposure and amplify their commitment to inclusion through corporate engagement. Together we are challenging stereotypes about individuals with disabilities and working to build a more inclusive society for all. To learn more visit danielsmusic.org/disability-awareness or contact Carla Sullivan at carla@danielsmusic.org

If you believe in what we do as an organization and would like to keep our music programs and events free to the public, we respectfully request that you consider contributing to Daniel’s Music Foundation. Donations of all sizes are welcomed, needed, and greatly appreciated. Your support will help impact the lives of individuals with disabilities and allow us to use music as an instrument to build a more inclusive society. Simply scan the QR code below or visit the merchandise table in the lobby of the venue to donate. Thank you for your consideration.

Join us for The 6th Annual Danny Awards in the Fall of 2025!

Additional accessibility resources are located at the help desk in the lobby of the venue. Daniel’s Music Foundation | 1595 Lexington Avenue, 2nd floor New York, NY 10029 | 212.289.8912 | danielsmusic.org