What are the San Diego Music Awards?

The San Diego Music Awards started in 1991, as a way to recognize the achievements of our diverse local music community. Now in its 29th year, the San Diego Music Awards presents awards in over 20 categories, recognizing many different genres of music including Rock, Jazz, Hip Hop, Americana and World Music. Past performers include Jewel, Jason Mraz, Switchfoot, P.O.D., Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek). The San Diego Music Awards is the primary fundraising vehicle for the San Diego Music Foundation's Guitars for Schools Program.

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Beneficiary: The San Diego Music Foundation

The San Diego Music Foundation has been actively involved in keeping participatory music programs in San Diego County elementary, middle, and high schools for almost 25 years.  The Guitars for Schools program was launched, in partnership with Taylor Guitars, in 1990 to both as a way to augment existing programs and to offset the loss of arts instruction due to budget cuts. The guitar familiarity and popularity among young people makes it an excellent tool for getting them interested in music, and in performing arts in general. Over its 25 year history, the organization has served over 61000 K-12 students in 83 schools (76 currently) from the Mexican border to San Onofre. 

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If you would like more information about the Guitars for Schools program, or would like to involve your school, please click here. 

Participating Schools

Elementary Schools
Barnett Elementary
Bonsall West Elementary
Capri Elementary
Carlton Oaks Elementary
Clearview Elementary
Crest Elementary
Crown Point Jr. Music Academy

El Camino Creek Elementary
Empressa Elementary
Family Justice Center
Fay Elementary
Flying Hills Elementary
Heritage Elementary
Holmes Elementary
Hope Elementary
Jefferson Elementary
Julian Elementary
La Costa Heights Elementary

La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools - Rolando Campus
LePort School Carlsbad Village
Live Oak Elementary
Longfellow Elementary
Magnolia Elementary
Oak Park Music Conservatory
Ocean Knoll Elementary
Old Town Academy
Riverview Elementary
Rolando Elementary
San Onofre Elementary
Sequoia Elementary
Stone Ranch Elementary
Temple Heights Elementary
Tierra del Sol Elementary

Tip Academy
Twin Oaks Elementary
Valley Center Primary
Vista Academy
Vista Christian School

Wolf Canyon Elementary

Middle Schools
Castle Park Middle School
College Prepatory Middle School
Greenfield Middle School

High Tech Middle School
Jefferson Middle School

Joan McQueen Middle School
Lakeside Middle School
Mann Middle School
Marshall Middle School
Monroe Clark Middle School

Olive Peirce Middle School

Tierra del Sol Middle School
Roosevelt Middle School
Wilson Middle School

High Schools
El Capitan High School
Grossmont High School
High Tech High Chula Vista

High Tech High Liberty Station
High Tech High North County
Mission Vista High School
Santana High School

Charter Schools
America’s Finest Charter School
Classical Academy Vista

Darnell Charter School
Diego Hills Charter School

Excelsior Academy