JUNO-Nominated Aboriginal Singer Don Amero Performs and Unveils Instruments at Morley Community School

May 15, 2015

TWO ALBERTA-BASED FIRST NATIONS SCHOOLS AWARDED $10,000 EACH FROM MUSICOUNTS BAND AID PROGRAM

MusiCounts, in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) celebrated $10,000 in new musical instruments provided to Morley Community School (Morley, AB). The festivities featured Aboriginal singer-songwriter and JUNO Award nominee, Don Amero, who was on hand to address the importance of investing in music education. Following his talk, he helped to unveil the newly purchased instruments, and performed an acoustic set for nearly 200 students, staff and special guests.

“Music has this incredible power and can do incredible things,” said Don Amero. “Music is like medicine; it’s the prescription that heals the soul. I commend MusiCounts and APTN for the work they do to ensure children feel that power.”

APTN’s contribution of $10,000 towards MusiCounts’ Band Aid Program was matched by MusiCounts and as a result, Prince Charles Elementary (Edmonton, AB) also has $10,000 worth of new musical instruments this year. These two Alberta-based schools are included in the $595,000 in funding that will be distributed among 69 schools nationwide in support of their individual music programs. To date, MusiCounts has contributed a total of nearly $300,000 to First Nations schools across Canada.

“Through our partnership with APTN, not only are we helping to keep music education alive in First Nations communities across Canada, but we are also working together to raise awareness about the important role music has in young people’s lives and how integral arts preservation is to cultural conservation,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards & MusiCounts. “It’s our hope that as a result of this, we will see increased applications for funding from First Nation Communities that can benefit from their youth having musical opportunities.”

APTN were on site to capture the footage for a special PSA that will air nationally during their broadcast of Aboriginal Day Live 2015, which is set to take place June 20, 2015. Amero will also be a guest at the festivities, performing on the main stage at The Forks, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“It’s important to foster creative expression at an early age,” says Jean La Rose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “APTN is honoured to partner once again with MusiCounts in providing a unique opportunity for our youth, which they may not otherwise have, to learn and to strengthen their creative and critical thinking skills all the while sharing their rich diversity and cultures.”

NT5