UNDER EMBARGO Media Advisory: CCMA Award Winner Meghan Patrick to Celebrate MusiCounts Band Aid Program at Hamilton School
Monday, August 20, 2018 — On Friday, September 7, reigning CCMA Female Artist of the Year, Meghan Patrick will join MusiCounts, Canada’s leading music education charity, for a special MusiCounts Band Aid Program celebration at James MacDonald Elementary School in Hamilton.
As part of 2018 CCMA Country Music Week, 5-time 2018 CCMA Award nominee and 2-time CCMA Award winner Meghan Patrick, will surprise students with a special performance to celebrate the CCMA and SiriusXM's generous support of MusiCounts. Through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program, James MacDonald Elementary School previously received $5,000 in instruments for the school's music program. As part of the celebration, the CCMA and MusiCounts will surprise the school with an additional $5,000 in new instruments.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program provides school music programs in need with musical instruments and equipment. MusiCounts is pleased to announce that in 2018 schools can apply for up to $15,000 in instruments, an increase from the previous $10,000 cap. Instruments provided (awarded allotments between $5,000 and $15,000) impact thousands of young Canadians and support diverse music programs that include everything from concert and jazz bands to rock band programs. To date, MusiCounts has distributed nearly $11 million in instruments and equipment to hundreds of school and community music programs across Canada.
About Meghan Patrick
Returning to the CCMAs after an unforgettable performance in Saskatoon with much to celebrate is reigning SiriusXM Rising Star and Female Artist of the Year, Meghan Patrick. Earning five 2018 CCMA Award nominations, Meghan recently made history by becoming the first solo female artist to take home the Fans’ Choice Award at the Country Music of Ontario Awards. With her debut album, Grace and Grit generating four Top 20 singles and a Top 10 hit with Still Loving You, Meghan Patrick released her sophomore album (Country Music Made Me Do It) earlier this year to great fanfare. The first single from the album, also titled “Country Music Made Me Do It” also reached the Top 5, and her most recent single “The Bad Guy” was a Top 15 hit.
About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA)
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2018 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Government of Ontario, City of Hamilton, Tourism Hamilton and the Hamilton, Halton and Brant Regional Tourism Organization.
About MusiCounts
MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with CARAS and the JUNO Awards is keeping music alive in schools and communities across Canada by putting musical instruments into the hands of children that need them most. MusiCounts' mission is to ensure that youth in Canada have access to music programs through their schools and communities. MusiCounts celebrates musical excellence and achieves its mission through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program, the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award, scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by many of Canada's most dedicated corporate citizens including and especially CCMA’s, TD Bank Group, Bell Media, SiriusXM Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, Music Canada, Vista Radio, and The Hot Topic Foundation. MusiCounts has been supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada Ltd., JUNO Songwriters' Circle and JUNO Cup. MusiCounts was established in 1997, and has awarded nearly $11,000,000 in support of music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted over 1,000 schools and communities, supported over 350 post-secondary music program graduates, and honoured 13 extraordinary music teachers and two MusiCounts ambassadors.