For Immediate Release

Music BC Charitable Foundation’s Successful Pilot Program
Leads Way to Foster Music Education in BC
Open calls for other elementary schools in BC to begin 2nd Adopt an Instrument Program, and announcement of deadline for Burt Harris Memorial Scholarship Awards.

Vancouver, BC (October 24, 2007) – The Music BC Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the success of their pilot-program Adopt an Instrument for Lord Roberts Elementary. Music BC was able to raise over $28,000 in funds from a donor through the Vancouver Foundation and generous private donors, and received 18 donated instruments from individuals around BC. The music program at Lord Roberts Elementary received 126 instruments, allowing their progressive music program to continue for their students.

The Music BC Charitable Foundation would not have been able to fulfill this wishlist without the generous support of our donors of funds and instruments, the staff and Parent Advisory Council of Lord Roberts Elementary, Jeff Stonier and staff at Northwest Music for providing instruments at a discounted rate and repairs to the donated instruments, and to Brent Belair and the staff at Long & McQuade for providing instruments at a greatly discounted rate, new and used.  Executive Director, Bob D’Eith remarked, “Programs like this allow a community to grow. We are so grateful to have received such amazing support from local retailers Long & McQuade and Northwest Music. And we were honored to meet and work with every one of our donors of funds and instruments, as we worked together to support this music program.” Parent representatives Neve Tomic and Gwendolynn Gawlick say, “The schoolchildren's families are strong supporters of the music program at Lord Roberts, and are grateful that Music BC Charitable Foundation is helping to give children the lifelong gift of music."

With the success of the first Adopt an Instrument program, the Music BC Charitable Foundation has decided to continue this program, and is open to receive inquiries from other schools in BC in similar situations to benefit from this program. Once a school has been chosen for the Adopt an Instrument program, Music BC will encourage people to donate new/used instruments, or cash to Music BC Charitable Foundation, in exchange for a charity tax receipt. “We feel that there are probably
thousands of instruments out there gathering dust that could bring joy to a child and ensure that music programs are not shut down” says D’Eith.

The Music BC Charitable Foundation is also pleased to announce the deadline for the first annual Burt Harris Memorial Scholarship Award. This scholarship is open to students and individuals age 25 and under for private music instruction, and enrollment in a music instruction program in a post-secondary institution. Music BC will be giving away 10 awards of $500 for private music instruction, and 5 awards of $1000 for post-secondary music program tuition. Application forms will be available on www.musicbc.org beginning November 1st, 2007. The deadline for applications is May 2nd, 2008.

With donations from The 94.5 Beat FM totaling $19,000, this scholarship has been built into an endowment to award music education scholarships to needy students for private and institutional music programs. The scholarship was named after Burt Harris who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2006. Burt was a music lawyer and fierce advocate for music and musicians. Burt’s passion for all things music will be carried forward through this scholarship program. The Music BC Charitable Foundation would like to encourage people to donate to the charity in order that the Foundation can offer this scholarship for many years to come.

D’Eith remarked, “With the generous support of our donors, we will be able to help many of these students and individuals not only to gain one on one musical instruction from professional instructors, but to work toward a brighter future with confidence and passion, be it a profession in music or otherwise. We believe that the gift of music for these students will benefit the community beyond the music sector, as they take their dedication for playing music, and apply that same dedication and passion to the rest of their lives.”

For more information on the programs offered by Music BC Charitable Foundation, and ways to donate, and volunteer, please visit www.musicbc.org or contact Music BC by phone at 604-873-1914 or toll free in BC at 1-888-866-8570 or by email at amanda@musicbc.org

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Amanda Schweers
Executive Assistant
Music BC Charitable Foundation
1-888-866-8570
604-873-1914
amanda@musicbc.org