For immediate release: Brooklyn, NY, June 15, 2009

The first annual ROCKBAND FOR THE ARTS fundraiser to be held on August 15, 2009 was announced this morning. On this “Day of Play to Benefit Regina Opera” sponsored participants will play the game Rock Band 2. Each participant will enjoy all 84 songs of the endless set list 2 in a 6-hour “Rock Band–a–thon”, raising money to support the Regina Opera Company.

This event will allow non-musicians the ability to experience the joy of making music and to do so in a way that will allow classical musicians to continue to bring their art to their audience. Uniting rock music and opera in this way illustrates that above all quality music, of all styles, is timeless and is meant to be enjoyed.

Those wishing to participate should visit: www.rockband4arts.info to sign up. Participants can register individually or collectively in groups of up to 4 persons in a rock band. Participants can collect sponsors collectively or individually. Prior to August 15th, participants will seek pledges of sponsorship per song and after performing mail their collected pledges directly to Regina Opera Company at P.O. Box 150253, Brooklyn, New York 11215.

Prizes will be available to the participants. Some prizes will be reserved for the participants who raise the most money for Regina Opera, while other prizes will be randomly distributed among the participants who meet or exceed pledges totaling $1 per song ($84). For purposes of prizes, all money needs to be received by Regina Opera before September 1, 2009. Winners of prizes will be notified shortly thereafter. For the list of prizes and winners please visit: www.rockband4arts.info. All prizes are donated to the fundraisers specifically for this purpose. Those wishing information about donating prizes should contact Charles Smith at: cesmith68@gmail.com.

About Regina Opera Company, based in Brooklyn, NY and established in 1970 is a not-for-profit opera company bringing affordable opera to its community and the surrounding area. Founded by Marie Cantoni and Nicholas Tierno, who founded the company to provide opera singers the opportunity to present their art to an interested audience. For more information please visit: www.reginaopera.org.

About Harmonix Music Systems, Inc Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Cambridge, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded by Alex Rigopulos and Eran Egozy, who formed the company to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and have pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit: www.harmonixmusic.com.

© 2009 Charles Smith. All Rights Reserved. Harmonix, Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and all related titles and logos are trademarks of Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., an MTV Networks company. Rock Band and Rock Band 2 developed by Harmonix Music Systems, Inc.