About MAMA
The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) is a non-profit, volunteer-backed charitable organization committed to giving every child the gift of music. We strive for a future where every kid has the chance to play.
MAMA supports students’ continued growth by committing to keep musical instruments and music education available for local youth, including supporting private lesson teachers and group musical education, and connecting youth to performance opportunities. We work with school districts, local businesses, teachers, and community groups in the Madison area to keep the fundamentals of music available and to promote that cause.
MAMA also supports Madison’s professional musicians, and is committed to supporting Madison’s dynamic and growing music scene.
Every year we host the MAMAs, our annual awards show, to honor the efforts of local musicians and music supporters. This show, along with other MAMA initiatives throughout the year, raises money to foster the next generation of musicians. The main sources of funding for the organization are individual donations and commercial sponsorship.
Mission Statement
The Madison Area Music Association (MAMA) supports youth music in the greater Madison area, and strengthens and engages the music community as a whole.
Vision Statement
The Madison Area Music Association recognizes the importance of music in the growth and development of youth, and its enduring community impact. To that end, we strive to:
- • Provide financial support and resources to youth music programs;
- • Raise public awareness of the need to preserve and support the existence of music education;
- • Recognize the achievements of outstanding Madison-area music students, music educators, and musicians; and
- • Provide promotional support for the greater Madison music community as a whole.
The Good We Do
We have many initiatives to get instruments into kids’ hands and help fellow musicians. These include the MAMA Scholarship Fund honoring Clyde Stubblefield, the MAMA Cares program, instrument collection and distribution, and donations of money and other music supplies to local schools and students.
View our Charitable Programs >
Our impact can be felt across the greater Madison region, touching musicians young and old, both in school and performing professionally. From instruments to education, we are proud of the gifts we’ve been able to procure and share.
Sponsorship
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, without whom much of our efforts would not be possible.
If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, we’d love to speak with you.
View our sponsors and learn more >
Volunteer With Us
As a charitable organization, we are always looking for volunteers.
Learn more about volunteering and sign up here >
Awards Show
Every year, we host The MAMAs — a fund-raising gala awards show where we honor the best musicians and behind-the-scenes talent in the area.
Register, VOTE, See the Winners, and Learn More About the Show >
Staff and Executive Board
Since MAMA’s inception in 2003, we’ve been lucky to have dedicated and passionate directors, producers, and volunteers to help bring our mission to life. In 2024 we created the first executive board to bring financial stability and ensure that this valuable organization can carry on for many years to come.
MAMA Membership
We’re about to launch a new MAMA membership program. We’re teaming with local businesses to offer perks and discounts to MAMA members. Local businesses, click the link below to learn how to get involved.
Our History
The Madison Area Music Awards were founded in 2003 by Rick Tvedt with encouragement from his friends Stephen Ellestad and Mark Adkins. As the publisher of the former Rick’s Café, a Madison-based newspaper dedicated to local musicians, Tvedt felt a pull to acknowledge the large and talented pool of musicians he encountered on the scene. The first awards show was held on March 28, 2004 at the historic Orpheum Theater, in a highly heralded Grammy-style gala.
Broadjam’s Roy Elkins got involved the second year to help oversee the voting of the awards show and move to an online voting model. Tvedt and Elkins collaborated with many volunteers over the following years to expand the MAMAs into an active nonprofit organization with the mission of supporting the local scene and putting instruments in kids’ hands. In 2009, the name of the organization changed from the Madison Area Music Awards to the Madison Area Music Association to reflect this broader mission. The awards show spent two years in the Wisconsin Union Theater, followed by three years at the Barrymore Theater. The annual event moved to the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center in 2010 and remained there through 2019. Beth Kille took over the role of Awards Show Executive Producer in 2013.
In 2014, after years of unrelenting dedication to the MAMAs, Tvedt handed off the MAMA Executive Director reigns to Curt Davies, a local business executive and music fan. Ty Christian took over that role in 2020, where he stayed until 2024. Dana Perry has recently been named the new Executive Director. Tvedt is still involved in the organization as Treasurer and advisor for the awards show. Roy Elkins continues to serve as Board Chair and President.
To date, the MAMAs have donated over $110,000 of funds and gear to area schools, community centers, private instruction facilities, and other facilities as the need arose. The organization continues to work to raise funds and secure equipment for area music programs as well as recognizing the accomplishments of the Madison music community.
When noted Madison drummer and former member of James Brown’s band Clyde Stubblefield passed away in 2017, an effort was made to establish a scholarship fund in memory of him. The MAMA Scholarship Fund has awarded four students with funds and continues to hone its process. Joey Banks currently leads the scholarship program.
In 2016, after a near-tragedy in his family, local musician Robert J. Conaway approached the organization about establishing a fund that could respond to musicians’ needs. Tvedt had worked with Chris Wagoner, Mary Gaines and others to hold a very successful fundraiser for Conaway’s family. Conaway agreed to head up the new MAMA Cares program, a fund that helps musicians and their families in times of crisis, particularly with health needs. As of 2022 this fund has given over $100,000 to area musicians and their families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MAMA Cares raised and distributed over $60,000 to local musicians who were financially impacted.
COVID-19 also had a major impact on the awards show. For three years the event was broadcast live over the internet. We were thrilled to return to a live show in 2023.
In 2024, the organization formed an executive board to bring financial stability to the MAMAs to ensure that this valuable organization can carry on for many years to come. We are also creating a new membership structure that will offer MAMA members considerably more benefits and bring the music community even closer together.