MusiCounts Band Aid Program to donate $725,000 in instruments to Canadian Schools
Every year MusiCounts supports and improves Canadian music programs by donating instruments to schools nationwide through their Band Aid Program.
This year the charity organization dedicated to enriching the lives of young Canadians through music education will be giving an impressive $725,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment to 80 lucky Canadian schools. Most schools will be getting either $5000 or $10,000, however each year one deserving school is chosen for a special $20,000 grant. This year the True North: The Canadian Songbook Band Aid Grant is going to Conrad Fitzgerald Academy in English Harbour West, NL. Click here to see a full list of recipients.
Since the instruments will last for over 20 years these donations will open doors to help a whole new generation of students find inspiration and joy through music!
This JUNO week people of Vancouver were able to hear the difference MusiCounts is making for themselves with the Let’s Hear It! LIVE concert at the Art Gallery Plaza. Here the MusiCounts StarBand, a wind orchestra featuring over 65 students from Vancouver schools who have benefitted from the program, performed with special guest JUNO Award winners Dear Rouge.
Leading the band was Education Chair, 2018 JUNO Host Committee and MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award recipient Mark Reid. This year the MusiCounts StarBand included students from:
- John Oliver Secondary School
- Killarney Secondary School
- Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
- Tamanawis Secondary School
- Maillard Middle School
- Terry Fox Secondary School
- Vancouver Technical Secondary School
The Executive Director of MusiCounts, Kristy Fletcher, says that “MusiCounts is excited that generations of students across Canada will know the benefits of music through these instrument grants. We can’t wait to celebrate all 2018 MusiCounts Band Aid Program recipients during JUNO Week, with the MusiCounts StarBand and Dear Rouge.”
Watch below to see MusiCounts surprise one of the lucky schools with $10,000 worth of instruments for their program: