PRS Guitar recently donated six electric guitars, one acoustic guitar, and seven amplifiers to the Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music.
To celebrate the partnership, Paul Smith paid a visit to students studying in the guitar program at MI, joined by guitarist Orianthi, who wowed more than 400 students while demonstrating her new signature-model PRS SE. Orianthi performed with Smith and PRS’ Mike Clark as well as with instructors who accompanied her on bass and drums.
"I had a blast meeting the students. There was a lot of love for playing the guitar in that room, and I hope to come back," said Orianthi.
"I loved being at GIT. The student musicians were so receptive and enthusiastic, and it’s an incredible feeling knowing they will be part of our future," said Smith.
PRS President Jack Higginbotham, PRS PR/Media Manager Rebecca Eaddy and MI’s Director of GIT Jude Gold spearheaded the partnership.
"The event was spectacular on many levels," said Gold. "In Paul Reed Smith, you have a pro-guitarist and industry pioneer who can articulate his own successes into life lessons anyone can take inspiration from, especially guitarists. On top of that, Paul, in one of the most generous gear donations in MI history, put a truckload of his finest guitars and amps in the hands of the next generation of guitar professionals plus brought in Orianthi, the electric guitar’s brightest young star, for an exclusive clinic. It’s an event no MI student will ever forget."
The donation of PRS guitars included a Custom 24, the guitar model that put PRS on the map and one that Guitar World has noted as being responsible for a "full blown American guitar renaissance" by "compelling American guitar makers to improve their game." Several of PRS’s newest electric models were part of the donation as well, including a Hollowbody Spruce, the retro-inspired Starla and Starla X, the 305, as well as a new Angelus cutaway PRS acoustic and several amplifiers from their new line.
Since 1977, Musicians Institute has been a world leader in contemporary music education, providing cutting-edge resources in its state of the art facilities located right in the heart of Hollywood, the capital of the world music industry. Its dynamic curriculum is current, comprehensive and compatible with the needs of students who not only desire to study music, but also build a career in the music industry with the knowledge they learn on campus.