It will be a win-win for everyone when the Peterborough Children’s Chorus (PCC) hosts an upcoming fundraiser in support of music education for children and youth.
Proceeds from the four-round euchre tournament, which will be held from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 at the All Saints’ Anglican Church in Peterborough, will support the launch of the Northumberland Youth Sing Festival this spring.
Presented in partnership with Sounds of the Next Generation (SONG), a free after-school music program for children and youth in Northumberland, the day-long festival would see 90 young PCC singers travel to Port Hope in mid-April.
The PCC, which is open to singers aged 8 to 18 years old in Nogoijwanang-Peterborough and surrounding areas, meets weekly to immerse students in a range of music styles and to promote musical skill through play, workshops, games, and informal concerts. No experience is required to participate.
“As much as we care deeply about music education, first and foremost, we want the kids to have a good time,” says PCC artistic director Anna Eidt. “We want them to feel good about themselves, each other, and their voices, so it’s primarily a place to connect and gain confidence and feel good.”
Eidt explains that, prior to the pandemic, the choir regularly went on fun educational trips, though it’s taken some time to bounce back by building up the membership. Eidt says they have also been working to make these opportunities more financially accessible for members.
“As people are encountering more financial hardship, we are working hard to make sure that’s not a barrier to access to music education,” says Eidt. “So, in addition to regaining the organization’s financial stability, we’re also trying to make it much more accessible.”
During the Northumberland Youth Sing Festival, groups of young people will work with conductors, engage with new workshops, and participate in mindfulness activities and Indigenous-led teachings. A highlight of the festival will be a mass choir.
“That’s the number one thing that comes up for our alumni — they absolutely love the experience of singing with many, many voices at once,” says Eidt. “We want to provide this very special experience again for our singers, and we want it to be accessible.”
As for why it’s critical to provide opportunities to engage in music education from a young age, Eidt says the benefits are “limitless,” including how it uses “all parts of the brain.”
“I know from personal experience as a musician that it can be a life-changing experience and it can be a lifeline,” Eidt explains.
“Doing music, learning musical skills, practising music, and creating music in a group can actually prime your brain and it primes kids to be better learners in all other areas. The research around music education for academic success overall is absolutely proven.”
Following a matching donor campaign which raised $2,000 in support of the festival, the PCC is aiming to raise the final $1,000 of their goal at the January 24 euchre tournament. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has gender neutral bathrooms.
The winner of the tournament will win up to $100, and there will also be a 50/50 draw, as well as a silent auction full of donated goods from downtown businesses, including local art, jewellery, high-quality crafting supplies, and more.
There will also be a cash-only café selling hot beverages, carbonated drinks, baked goods, and more for participants.
Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or giving to the silent auction are encouraged to reach out to Eidt at anna@peterboroughchildrenschorus.com to help make a difference to youth music education locally.
“We don’t have the same choral culture that we had 20 or even 10 years ago,” Eidt says. “We don’t have as many choirs in schools and in churches. Kids don’t have as many opportunities to sing, to learn how to sing, and to sing in a group, so making our organization strong and accessible is incredibly important right now. It’s essential.”
Tickets for the euchre tournament are available on a sliding scale from $13 to $20 and can be purchased online through Eventbrite at eventbrite.ca/e/1979683129532 or by calling Joan at 647-234-3032.
