ADVISORY/19,000 Southland Students to Attend 34th Annual Dorothy B. Chandler Children's Festival.

Photo Editors/Entertainment Editors/Education Writers

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (March 24)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

          Thousands of Local Students Perform on Music Center
                 Plaza as Part of Arts Education Month

WHAT:   The 34th annual Dorothy B. Chandler Children's Festival
        brings together fifth grade students from the greater Los
        Angeles area to experience the excitement and joy of the
        performing arts. More than 19,000 students are expected to
        attend over the three-day festival. Participating children
        will enjoy a dance performance by Ailey II -- the acclaimed
        dance company established by Alvin Ailey -- and then perform a
        prepared dance in unison on the plaza of the Music Center of
        Los Angeles County.

        This year, as a result of a generous grant from Blue Ribbon
        member Maxine Dunitz, all students in attendance at the
        Festival will also receive a commemorative book introducing
        them to all the performing arts at the Music Center, including
        some of the artists and behind-the-scenes staff that make the
        performances possible.

        The Festival is one example of the programs undertaken by the
        Music Center's Education Division, which is the largest and
        most extensive in the country. More than 600,000 children have
        been introduced to the performing arts since the Festival's
        inception in 1970.

WHERE:  Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
        135 Grand Avenue
        (corner of First Street and Grand Avenue)
        Los Angeles, California
        Parking available at the Music Center Garage located at
         135 Grand Avenue

WHEN:   Wednesday, March 24, 2004
        10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

WHO:    Maxine Dunitz, member, The Blue Ribbon
        Joyce Kresa, president, The Blue Ribbon
        Stephen D. Rountree, president, Music Center of Los Angeles
         County
        Mark Slavkin, vice president of Education, Music Center of
         Los Angeles County

VISUALS:

    --  Dance performance by 3,100 local fifth grade students on the
        Music Center plaza

    --  Children from more than 75 Southern California schools
        enjoying the Music Center experience

    --  Presentation of commemorative books to the students

    --  Opportunity for one-on-one interviews and reaction from
        students