Trey Sonz Collaborates with Nuttin' But Stringz on MTV Unplugged

NUTTIN' BUT STRINGZ
Tourie Escobar (l) and Damien Escobar
Nuttin' But Stringz play during the historical
concert on MTV Unplugged April 23rd. NBS
peformed with Trey Songz for the much talked about
concert.


Nuttin' But Stringz Collaborates with Trey Songz

Trey Songz - New Music

According to Songz's management, the singer's ongoing tour (Blueprint 3) with Jay-Z will be the focus of an as-yet-untitled reality series set to premiere in June. "The first show airs on BET on June 27, the night of the BET Awards," music vet, Kevin Liles told MTV this week. "The show comes first, and then right after that, the BET Awards."

MTV's Grammy® award-winning series, MTV Unplugged premieres its latest installment featuring the prince of  R&B, Trey Songz on Monday, April 26 at 6:00am ET/PT on MTV.com.  Trey Songz, known for giving his fans the ultimate show will perform songs from his critically acclaimed album, Ready, including hit singles "Neighbors Know My Name" and "Say Aah."  The performance will also include a special rendition of "Let's Get It On" by the legendary Marvin Gaye.  MTV will also air highlights from the special across its multiple on-air platforms on-air including AMTV, mtvU, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.

New York, NY - Trey Songz, who's about to release a new album in September performed a special, historical concert series on MTV Unplugged this month collaborating with Damien Escobar and Brother Tourie, Nuttin' But Stringz (NBS). NBS peformed a double header on April 23rd, Friday. A Houston benefit concert for the American Heart Assn. and MTV Unplugged. Check out the three videos below. You can the platinum selling violin duo playing right behind Trey Songz.

         Trey Songz with Nuttin But Stringz -MTV Unplugged. NBS collaborated           with Trey Songz on the April 23, 2010 concert. (NBS photo)

According to Songz's management, the singer's ongoing tour (Blueprint 3) with Jay-Z will be the focus of an as-yet-untitled reality series set to premiere in June.

MUSIC WITH TREY SONGZ & NUTTIN BUT STRINGZ (More)
"The first show airs on BET on June 27, the night of the BET Awards," music vet, Kevin Liles told MTV this week. "The show comes first, and then right after that, the BET Awards."

MTV's Grammy® award-winning series, MTV Unplugged premieres its latest installment featuring the prince of  R&B, Trey Songz on Monday, April 26 at 6:00am ET/PT on MTV.com.

Trey Songz - New Music 

Trey Songz, known for giving his fans the ultimate show will perform songs from his critically acclaimed album, Ready, including hit singles "Neighbors Know My Name" and "Say Aah."  The performance will also include a special rendition of "Let's Get It On" by the legendary Marvin Gaye.  MTV will also air highlights from the special across its multiple on-air platforms on-air including AMTV, mtvU, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.
Nuttin' But Stringz recently performed on Dancing with the Stars, making history of their own as the first instrumental on the TV's most watch TV show on ABC.

About Nuttin’ But Stringz

Teenage brothers, Tourie Escobar and Damien Escobar, who grew up in Queens, NY, are a true phenomenon of our musical age. Together, the Escobar brothers are Nuttin’ But Stringz (NBS). NBS combines the classical sound of the violin with Pop, R&B and Hip-hop. The result is a unique and uplifting fury of modern emotion and harmony, intensity and rhythm. Younger brother Damien says, “We play our violins so hard and with such force that we destroy a bow a show!” Tourie describes their urban rock compositions this way, “Our music is based on emotion not lyrics. We tell stories and the violin is our voice.

Nuttin' But Stringz peformed live while Tiler Peck, NY principal ballerina and TV's 
So You Think You Can Dance dancers hit the stage with a powerful historical performance, that even the DWTS were still talking about after the night's competitive ballroom dancing show. NBS is on a tour, next stop, Kentucky.

At age 10 both were the youngest to attend the legendary Julliard School of Music in New York City where they were able to hone their craft and find their place. Their mission is to bridge the gap between Popular and Classical music. Nuttin’ But Stringz debut CD and most recent composition, Struggle from the Subway to the Charts by KOCH Entertainment and NBS Entertainment Inc. features their first single “Thunder,” showcasing their raw talent and digs into the soul. Other tracks include “Broken Sorrow” and “Dance with my Father.” For more information about NBS visit: www.Nuttinbutstringz.com and NBS Blog: http//nuttinbutstringz.wordpress.com.






Just in case you are trying to remember what Trey Songz sounds like on the radio or in concert PLUGGED IN:

Trey Songz - New Music  

For more about Nuttin' But Stringz visit: www.Nuttinbutstringz.com

ITEP's 10th Annual Scholarship and Awards Dinner A Huge Success

ITEP Spotlights Port of LA Executive Director Geraldine Knatz at Annual Awards Dinner

ITEP Students at this year's Scholarships and Awards Dinner, San Pedro. This year's event was soldout, Above one of several Itep academy class graduates. (Photo by MAYO PR)

ITEP Announces Winners for Thursday Night Annual Dinner

(L-R) Omar Franco (GESA Speaker), Geovanna Valenzuela (ITEP Scholarship Winner from ITA Academy), Jessica Ortiz (Mojave XP Speaker), Monique Romo (GBAC Speaker), Greta Armenta (ITA Speaker, ITEP Scholarship Winner), Geraldine, Cassandra Garcia (SPEA Speaker), Hugo Arreguin (GSS Speaker), Ruby Bueno (ITEP Scholarship Winner), Jesus Mendez (180 Degree Student from GESA).    (Photo by John Stephen)

Below are all of the different award winners.

180 Degree Winner:
Jesus Mendez from Global Environmental Sciences Academy (GESA)
Southern California Gas Company Scholarship:
Ruby Bueno from ITA
ITEP Scholarship Winners:
Greta Armenta from ITA
Steve Chavez from ITA
Geovanna Valenzuela from ITA
Rising Star! Winners:
Diamond Porter from GBAC (Carson High School)
Miguel Hernandez II from Mojave XP (Barstow High School)
Madaly Alcala from SPEA (San Pedro High School)

Teacher of the Year:

Joe Mendoza from Global Safety and Security Academy (GSS)
Phineas Banning High School – Wilmington, CA

"Teaching has been and continues to be a great career choice," said Joe Mendoza, ITEP's "Teacher of the Year award recipient."

Joe Mendoza, ITEP Teacher of the Year

"I constantly remind students that to be successful in life, you have to pick a career that will bring satisfaction on many levels," he explained." teaching does that.
"As a young person I wanted to do something that makes a difference. I can’t think of another career that would allow me to both give a lot and make a difference in the lives of students and I gain a lot for myself," Mendoza noted.
"As a history teacher, year after year I get to instill American values in students and pass on the American heritage and morals that need to be passed down to future generations. Teaching history helps keep the American story alive. I get to teach skills that allow students to make decisions that will affect their own lives."
For 14 years Mendoza has been involved, through school, with a program called Students Run L.A."We train students from September to March to run the Los Angeles Marathon," he said.
"This program brings me great satisfaction, because the results are so obvious and the change in behavior is so clear it is easy to get hundreds of teachers to run programs at their schools (and assist at my school) for no pay despite putting in hundreds of hours."

ITEP Teacher of the year, Joe Mendoza inspires thousands of students to run in LA Marathon.

Mendoza describes his work as "easy to get thousands (more than 42,000) of students to want to race 26 miles and run hundreds of miles in preparation.
He says, "when you see a student set a difficult goal and then achieve it you feel like you really made a difference," explained Mendoza. "Through this program I have seen all students that joined improve themselves in one way or another. Pedro, the student who was already on track for college, became a leader. Brittany, the student with little direction or hope in life, found both. Daniel, the student who was quite overweight, lost the weight and has kept it off ever since."
"This year I was selected as the lead teacher of the GSS Academy. This has given me a chance to run another program. I enjoy being the lead teacher because I feel that organization is my best skill and that is what an academy (and school) needs the most. It is a great opportunity because the job is flexible and I can, over time, help mold it into something even greater than it already is."
Mendoza also contends that since Banning High School went to small learning communities the change has been obvious. There is more success at school and students are no longer lost.

"Every teacher has the opportunity to affect young people and give them knowledge, direction and skills," said Mendoza. "I want to make sure that I take full advantage of that opportunity. When I see a student improve or achieve something they thought was impossible or too difficult it inspires me to continue to do my best to deliver quality programs and instruction to the school."


ITEP is honoring Port OF LA Executive Director Geraldine Knatz with the 2010 Keeper of the Flame Award at the annual fundraising event. Knatz has been a major ITEP supporter of ITEP.
Knatz, who is the first female executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, oversees the daily operations and management of the nation’s number one container port. Under her leadership, the Port has reduced air emissions and health risks while expanding capital development programs to accommodate the port’s future growth as a premiere Pacific Gateway and national economic engine.

“The Port of Los Angeles has been a huge leader in keeping the torch lit at ITEP,” said ITEP Board Chairman Tom Good of Matson Navigation. “We would not be here today without the support from the ports and contributions from corporations and the international trade industry. They’re changing lives of high school students with career opportunities offering life changing work experiences.”



ITEP Board Chairman Tom Good of Matson Navigation at Annual Awards Dinner from George  S. Mc Quade III on Vimeo.


Below are the ITEP Academies:

"Opening the World Today, and Preparing for Tomorrow"
Research has shown that by Small Learning Community Academies help lower school dropout rates by increasing classroom relevance, personalization between teachers and students, and academic rigor.
ITEP currently serves 8 Learning Academies in 5 public high schools throughout California. Details on these academies can be found below:
Phineas Banning High School – Wilmington, CA
In 2007, Banning became the first school to leave California’s Program-Improvement-5 status, a federal watch list for underperforming schools. Former principal Michael Summe credits much of this extraordinary success to ITEP for its industry support of student academic performance.
At Banning High, every non-freshman attends one of three schools - the ITEP School is one of these schools. This ITEP school serves 800 students and is composed of four themed academies:
International Trade Academy (ITA)
capacity: 200 students

ITA provides students with the skills necessary to transition successfully from high school to a future in trade, transportation and logistics. Students are prepared—economically, socially, and educationally—to succeed in today’s dynamic business climate.
Global Safety and Security Academy (GSS)
capacity: 200 students

GSSA teaches students about global safety and security, and its critical role in our nation’s well-being. It also builds structures for further education and employment in any of our government’s safety and security sectors.

Match: From the Field to the Table (MATCH)
capacity: 200 students
The Match Academy is an award-winning program that prepares students for regarding and exciting careers in agricultural logistics, tourism, culinary arts, hospitality, and restaurant management. It covers the total spectrum of food service from the field to the table.

Global Environmental Sciences Academy (GESA)
capacity: 200 students

GESA introduces environmental career pathways and academic proficiency leading to graduation, entry-level jobs, certificate programs and college. GESA supports the successful transition of students to a future as responsible adults.
Carson High School – Carson, CA
Global Business Academy (GBA)
capacity: 75 students

GBA was launched for the 2008-09 school year, modeled after best practices and programs developed at ITEP's academies. Currently GBA offers a variety of activities such as teamwork/leadership building field trips such as TopSail, speaker series with industry leaders, curriculum enrichment activities such as the International Economic Summit and an internship program through the City of Carson.

Barstow High School – Barstow, CA
Mojave XP Logistics Academy (Mojave XP)
capacity: 75 students
From 2007, ITEP has worked with Barstow's community leaders, activists, board of education administrators, Barstow College, and school officials to develop Barstow's first logistics academy. Situated along Southern California's main trade route, the city of Barstow offers strong professional and educational opportunities for high school graduates. Mojave XP strives to not only improve graduation rates and grades, but also to improve student attitudes and academic culture.
Excel High School – Oakland, CA
International Trade, Transportation, and Logistics Academy (ITTL)
capacity: 75 students

ITTL is a logistics themed academy that takes advantage of the many resources of companies in the Port of Oakland. ITTL's advisory board of over 30 industry leaders and education administrators serves as a strong foundation for student growth. By offering students invaluable professional opportunities and connecting industry resources to school needs, ITTL strongly impacts student lives.
San Pedro High School – San Pedro, CA
Earth Alert Academy (Earth Alert)
capacity: 500 students

Earth Alert engages students to be aware of both local and global environmental issues that affect their daily lives. By infusing classroom curriculum with speaker series and industry programs and activities, Earth Alert encourages students to think critically about environmental issues. Academy students are connected to passionate leaders in environmentally themed companies and are given both educational and professional opportunities to serve their communities.

Additional Schools Aided by ITEP Programs - California
• Narbonne High School
• Gardena High School
• Crenshaw High School
• J.F. Kennedy High School
• Washington Prep High School
• Bassett High School

For more about ITEP visit: www.Itepinc.org

Nuttin' But Stringz bringz nuttin;' but music to American Heart Assn. ears

Heart “Stringz” tugged at the American Heart Association’s Power of Legacy Soiree

HOUSTON – Nuttin’ But Stringz’ international urban rock violin duo Damien and Tourie Escobar brought music lovers to their their feet Friday night(April 26, 2010) at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall. The Emmy award-winning brother’s unique fusion of rock urban hip hop and classical music touched the hearts of nearly 300 people, who gathered in support of the American Heart Association’s Power To End Stroke movement, an initiative that empowers people to reduce their risk for stroke and educates communities on the importance of prevention. In between electrifying sets, the brothers shared their rise from the rough and dangerous streets of Jamaica Queens, NY, as well as their close connection to heart disease. The pair’s mother, aunt and grandparents have all suffered from various forms of heart disease and stroke, while Damien Escobar himself has a murmur that is checked regularly.

200-Damien Escobar, Event Chair Merele Yarborough and Tourie Escobar (Dmoreland Photography)

One hundred percent of the funds raised for the Power of Legacy Soiree, chaired by Merele Yarborough, will directly impact the health initiatives of the African-American community in Houston and increase awareness about the risks, signs and symptoms of stroke, the nation’s number three killer, which impacts African-Americans more than any other ethnic group.

Honorees that evening included: Ralph Holmes of Aetna,Kirk Franklin and Judy and Wayne McConnell, who were recognized for their support of the Power to End Stroke campaign since its inception four years ago. Each of the honorees encouraged the audience to lead by example, and to make a pledge to incorporate simple lifestyle changes into their daily lives, which could significantly reduce the risk of stroke. , “

200-Damien and Brother Tourie (glasses) Nuttin' But Stringz at Houston concert(Dmoreland PHotography)

About Nuttin’ But Stringz 
 
Teenage brothers, Tourie Escobar and Damien Escobar, who grew up in Queens, NY are a true phenomenon of our musical age. Together, the Escobar brothers are Nuttin But Stringz (NBS). NBS combines the classical sound of the violin with Pop, R&B and Hip-hop. The result is a unique and uplifting fury of modern emotion and harmony, intensity and rhythm. Younger brother Damien says, “We play our violins so hard and with such force that we destroy a bow a show!”The older brother describes their urban rock compositions this way, “Our music is based on emotion not lyrics. We tell stories and the violin is our voice.”
 
At age 10 both were the youngest to attend the legendary Julliard School of Music in New York City where they were able to hone their craft and find their place. Their mission is to bridge the gap between Popular and Classical music. Nuttin’ But Stringz debut CD and most recent composition, Struggle from the Subway to the Charts by KOCH Entertainment and NBS Entertainment Inc features their first single “Thunder,” showcasing their raw talent and digs into the soul. Other tracks include “Broken Sorry” and “Dance with my Father.” For more information about NBS visit: www. Nuttinbutstringz.comand their blog @ http://nuttinbutstringz.wordpress.com.

The evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies was Deborah Duncan of KHOU Channel 11′s Great Day Houston. Others in the crowd included: Anita and Gerald Smith,Larry Payne, Cheryl Solomon, Ericka and Jeff Bagwell, Debbie and RudyFestari, Audrey and Wardell Gilbreath, Beverly and Jim Postl, Pam andNeil Tofsky, Charles Flournoy, Pam andMichaelStinson and Drs. Crystal and Randall Wright. 

About the American Stroke Association

The goal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is to reduce disability and death from stroke through research, education and advocacy. In its 2006–07 fiscal year, the association invested more than $152 million to fight stroke. To learn more, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit strokeassociation.org. The Power To End Stroke campaign is supported nationally by the Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership.

[Editors: For media interviews or images contact Aida Mayo or George Mc Quade, MAYO Communications, Los Angeles, 818-340-5300 or Publicity@MayoCommunications.com.]

For more about the American Heart Assn. contact:

Tiffany Travis, Comm. Dir.
American Heart Association
South Central Affiliate

10060 Buffalo Speedway
Houston, TX 77054
713-610-5041♠

Ralph and Wanda Homes of Aetna, Corporate Honoree )200-Ralph and Wanda Homes of Aetna, Corporate Honorees. (DMoreland PHotos)

Anita and Gerald Smith at Benefit Concert in Houston for th e American Heart Assn. (DMoreland)

Wayne and Judy Mc Connell at benefit concert. (DMoreland Photography)

Looking for the right media buzz, the info is free here. And if you want entertainment publicity buzz about your movie, music or company call us the first call is free. 818-340-5300 or Publicity@may