On September 5, 2019, four-time Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) Award nominee, Lindsay Ell joined MusiCounts to surprise students at Father Scollen School in her hometown of Calgary, AB. To kick off Country Music Week 2019, Ell took to the stage to celebrate $15,000 in new instruments the school received this year via the MusiCounts Band Aid Program.
“Thanks to the Canadian Country Music Association’s continued support of MusiCounts, we’ve given generations of students across Canada the opportunity to use quality instruments to experience the transformational benefits of music,” said Kristy Fletcher, Executive Director, MusiCounts. “We’re grateful to Lindsay Ell for celebrating Father Scollen’s music program today and helping us to inspire the next generation of creators.”
Since 2013, the CCMA has been a significant supporter of MusiCounts, helping to put instruments into the hands of kids who need them most all across Canada. This year $1 per ticket from the CCMA Awards broadcast on September 8 will be donated to MusiCounts, and a special moment will happen during the show with a MusiCounts student and a CCMA nominated artist.
“Music has affected so many of our lives and it’s incredible to have the opportunity to celebrate its power with the students at Father Scollen today,” said Tracy Martin, President, Canadian Country Music Association. “It’s an honour to support the MusiCounts Band Aid Program and its initiative to give youth across Canada access to music. The goal is to help inspire the next generation of CCMA Award-winning artists!”
“I am so honoured to be working with MusiCounts and celebrating the $15,000 instruments grant for Father Scollen School,” said Lindsay Ell. “To be a part of the MusiCounts Band Aid Program means so much, as I know how important music education was for me growing up. I might not have chose this as a career path had I not had such excellent music teachers and music programs. I truly believe that great music education has the power of positively enhancing a student’s experience at their school as well as their future.”
Lindsay also performed her hit songs “Good”, “Criminal” and “Waiting On You” for the excited crowd and participated in a Q&A with the students, where she shared her own experiences in music class.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program awards musical instruments and equipment to schools who need them most, and in 2019 96 schools across Canada received $1 million in instruments and equipment. MusiCounts Band Aid Program applications open September 17, 2019, and interested schools can apply for up to $15,000 in instruments at musicounts.ca.
For more photos from the event, head to our Facebook page!