Many people would agree that the world without music would be a world without inspiration and beauty. Yet, many of the musicians who give us this gift often struggle when they cannot work due to sickness, injury, or any other circumstance, leaving them unable to perform. That’s where the Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians, Inc. (AMFM) Foundation helps. The foundation was established to provide temporary financial relief to professional Annapolis area musicians who are unable to work, acting as an emergency relief fund for lost income.

Earlier this year, Annapolis-area musicians were hit hard when COVID-19 restrictions shutdown music venues, leaving many artists struggling to pay their monthly bills. AMFM Foundation stepped in to assist. The foundation provided nearly $111,500 for COVID-19-related expenses to 75 musicians for more than 1,200 lost gigs.

Since its formation in 2006, AMFM has added benefits and grants to support the growth of live music in Annapolis. Its objectives are not only to provide temporary relief to musicians unable to work, but also to provide assistance to musicians after catastrophic events, fund music lessons for talented students at Bates Middle School Performing & Visual Arts Program and Naptown Sings and Plays, fund a grant for a summer program to support underprivileged creative youth, and fund a college scholarship for a high school senior who will major in Music Performance at a four-year institution as a freshman. On top of all of that, AMFM operates as an all-volunteer organization of committed local leaders and musicians, said award-winning musician and founder of Creating Communities, Rob Levit. “They have a huge heart for the community, an impeccable and ‘under the radar’ record of service to local musicians-in-need and underserved youth. They do so much for so many in our community,” he said.

There are many stories that can be shared such as the funding of the Peabody Summer Vocal Academy, a one-week intensive program designed for middle school to high school singers to experience the professional discipline of preparing Italian/English art songs as well as poetry for a performance.

“Without a grant from AMFM Foundation our summer vocal academy program would not have run,” said nominator Pamela Godfrey, Peabody Preparatory Annapolis Campus Coordinator. And, while Godfrey was appreciative of the help that AMFM provided Peabody, she said that it was just a small example of what the organization does for the city of Annapolis. 

“The hardworking musicians of Annapolis are continuously giving back to their community by helping to support and promote the local businesses and by participating in the many benefits and charity events held each year in the Annapolis area. AMFM’s goal is to reciprocate that support by ensuring the musicians who work and perform in the Annapolis area can continue to maintain a quality of life during unexpected hardship that will keep them financially viable and the music in the city of Annapolis thriving,” said Godfrey.