A men’s choral group in Muskoka is helping realize the dreams of the next generation of musicians.
The Muskoka Men of Song is in its 35th year and provides bursaries for young musical students who show promise. The group has 35 members and help nurture talented students in the area.
Chairman of the bursary committee, Kenneth Veitch, says they are providing $6,000 in fees to 10 students in the region showing musical promise.
They all have to audition to qualify, and while their tuition costs are covered they are expected to participate in either the spring or Christmas shows each year the Men of Song hold at the Rene M. Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge.
“The proceeds from those concerts all go to support kids across Muskoka who are taking music lessons and we help them pay their tuition fees and whatever it takes for those lessons,” Veitch explains. “It’s a very beneficial program. We look after a number of kids each year.”
He says the shows, typically sell out with between 250 and 300 people attending. He says the kids love taking part.
“We help the kids learn by paying some of their bills,” Veitch says. “And then we have them perform at our concerts and quite frankly they are really eager to do that because it is a great venue to showcase their talents.”
Tickets cost $25 each and choral members also pay annual dues.
“We pay dues every year and that pays our expenses,” he says. “But all the proceeds after expenses after the concerts all goes to our bursary program.”
The next concert is on June 7th at 7:00pm.
The Sean Kelly Memorial Bursary Program is named after the late Sean Kelly, a founding member of the choir, and was created in the early 1990s. If you would like to get more information visit their website by clicking here.
2019 Bursary Award Winners
Bala
Matthew Lacroix (flute with Lianne Edwards and piano with Dan McCoy)
Bracebridge
Jillian McDougal (piano and or violin – Suzuki School of Music)
Bridgette Johnson (piano and or violin – Suzuki School of Music)
Simon Johnson (piano and or violin – Suzuki School of Music)
Beniah Good (piano)- (Mary Ruth Woodhouse)
Ethan Pinto (piano) – (Mary Ruth Woodhouse)
Huntsville
Kara McClung (Vocalist)
Selah Tate (Vocalist)
Alex Cull (Violin)
Gabrielle White (saxophone and other instruments) – (with Kim Barlow)
Port Sydney
Corbin Walsh (Dave Hudson of the Bracebridge Legion Pipe and Drums Band)