MusiCounts celebrated JUNO Week by announcing the 2014-2015 recipients of the Band Aid Program via a special presentation at Orchard Park Secondary School in Hamilton. This year, the charity has distributed $595,000 in musical instruments among 69 schools nationwide in support of their individual music programs. SiriusXM Canada announced a contribution of $100,000 to MusiCounts’ Band Aid Program, which brings their total support to date up to over $1.3 million.
“Providing funding for music education is not just about creating the next generation of JUNO Award winning artists, it’s about giving students the tools that will help turn them into creative, and critical thinkers that will achieve success later in life,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “We are tremendously thankful for all of our long-term key partners who make this possible, especially SiriusXM Canada who has been supporting MusiCounts over the past seven years.”
“SiriusXM Canada is pleased to contribute another $100,000 to the Band Aid Grant program through MusiCounts,” said Paul Cunningham, SVP, Sales and Marketing, SiriusXM Canada. “We’re so delighted to bring this news to Hamilton’s Orchard Park Secondary School and we’re looking forward to working with Allan, CARAS and MusiCounts for the remainder of the year to see the success of the program here and at schools across the country.”
As one of the 69 beneficiaries, Orchard Park Secondary School received $10,000 worth of new instruments. At the presentation, the instruments purchased were unveiled to the students by past JUNO Award winner and 2015 nominee Lights, following an acoustic performance of her hits “Running with the Boys,” “Up We Go” and a cover of Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home” to an excited auditorium. A dedicated supporter of MusiCounts, Lights recently selected the organization as her charity of choice for a campaign with Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt. Yesterday, 20% of all yogurt sales from all Menchie’s across Canada were donated to MusiCounts.
“Congratulations on the new instruments, this is really amazing! Being here today brings back so many memories of high school,” says Lights. “One place I always felt at home growing up was in the music room. I was lucky because I had a teacher who really inspired me and made me realize how important it is to have music in your life. Music brings people together, it’s real life magic.”
Over 600 students were in attendance for MusiCounts’ Band Aid presentation today, along with music industry supporters, fellow partners and additional representatives from other Toronto-based schools receiving funding this year.
