Music Mission is a foundation that supports communities throughout the Americas in creating and sharing their music. We believe in music’s ability to transcend division, foster innovation, and create joy for a world in need of empathy and constructive growth.
Music Mission is committed to realizing the uncommon. Whether working with extraordinary music students in the indigenous mountain town of Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, supporting the the last surviving generation of Canto Cardenche slave-era singers from the ranches of Durango, or realizing the community focused Lowertown Guitar Festival in Saint Paul, MN, Music Mission encourages new and creative interaction with, and between, artists across genre, nationality, and gender.
Music Mission (“MM”) is a philanthropy initiative that began in 2015 to support underserved communities in creating and sharing their unique music. The purpose of MM is to provide musical instruments, instruction, performance opportunities, and basic needs support to communities throughout the Americas. Through arts education initiatives, community festivals, and the fostering of intercultural dialog, MM serves artists and arts patrons of all levels and backgrounds.
In 2019, Music Mission incorporated in Minnesota and was granted tax-exempt status by the IRS. Now a 501(c)(3), Music Mission can receive tax-deductible donations for the purpose of realizing its programs.
To date, Music Mission has donated over 40 thousand dollars in instruments, education opportunities, and basic needs support to communities and artists in Mexico, Centralamerica, and the United States. MM’s first undertaking was a series of workshops and cultural exchanges with the CECAM school in Tlahuitoltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico that resulted in upwards of 50 musicians from the Oaxacan sierra performing at Mexico City’s Fundacion San Sebastian. Music Mission realizes the Lowertown Guitar Festival in St. Paul, MN on an annual basis. Other students who have received private study grants from Music Mission have gone on to study at prestigious universities, record their own records, and develop professional music careers.
Todd Clouser : Composing guitarist, songwriter and performer based between Mexico City and the USA. Combining elements of rock, jazz blues, spoken word and improvised musics, Clouser has toured the world with his group A Love Electric, as a solo act and performed alongside luminaries from John Lurie to John Zorn, Flea, Cyro Baptista, John Medeski, Keb Mo, and more, performing at rock, jazz and world music festivals across the globe.
Philanthropy and community outreach work have been an important part of Clouser's work in Mexico and beyond. As the founder of Music Mission, Todd and patrons have donated thousands of dollars worth of instruments, education materials, workshops and basic needs support to communities in Nicaragua, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Durango, the USA and more. Todd is also the founder of Ropeadope Sur, a record label based out of Mexico City with a focus on Mexican acts in search of increased projection of their music, the first act signed being Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz, an acapella group singing slave-era songs on the ranches on northern Mexico.
Molly Maher : Friend to the Twin Cities music community for over 25 years as a musician, producer, promoter, guitar tech, stage manager, mentor and curator.
Co Founder of Lowertown Guitar Festival as well a booker, marketer, emcee and performer. Co Founder of award winning concert series “Real Phonic Radio Hour”
As a producer: effective in bringing new projects and ideas from concept to reality. As an advisor and consultant: create marketing ideas and strategies for local music venues, promoters and developing bands.
As a musician and performer she is an incomparable singer and songwriter with compelling depth and soul and cutting lyrics drawn from the deep roots of Americana music. Leader of one of the finest Americana bands " The Disbelievers". Performing and touring regionally playing venues from NYC to LA and from Ely , Mn. to Austin, Tx. Performed with and opened for Los Lobos, John Hiatt, Marty Stuart, Dan Penn and Augie Meyers ( Texas Tornados/Sir Douglas Quintet). She has put out 3 critically acclaimed records as well as guested on countless others as a vocalist and guitar player.
Music Mission feels like the next level of musical service. Providing a space for others to share their voices together for a supported experience.