2019 CCMA Award Nominee Lindsay Ell Joins MusiCounts To Surprise Hometown Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALGARY, AB – On September 5, four-time 2019 Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) Award nominee Lindsay Ell joined MusiCounts, Canada’s leading music education charity, to surprise students at Father Scollen School in her hometown of Calgary. To kick off Country Music Week 2019, Ell took to the stage to celebrate $15,000 in new instruments the school received this year via the MusiCounts Band Aid Program.
"Thanks to the Canadian Country Music Association's continued support of MusiCounts, we've given generations of students across Canada the opportunity to use quality instruments to experience the transformational benefits of music," said Kristy Fletcher, Executive Director, MusiCounts. "We’re grateful to Lindsay Ell for celebrating Father Scollen's music program today and helping us to inspire the next generation of creators.”
Since 2013, the CCMA has been a significant supporter of MusiCounts, helping to put instruments into the hands of kids who need them most all across Canada. This year $1 per ticket from the CCMA Awards broadcast on September 8 will be donated to MusiCounts, and a special moment will happen during the show with a MusiCounts student and a CCMA nominated artist.
“Music has affected so many of our lives and it's incredible to have the opportunity to celebrate its power with the students at Father Scollen today," said Tracy Martin, President, Canadian Country Music Association. “It’s an honour to support the MusiCounts Band Aid Program and its initiative to give youth across Canada access to music. The goal is to help inspire the next generation of CCMA Award-winning artists!"
"I am so honoured to be working with MusiCounts and celebrating the $15,000 instruments grant for Father Scollen School," said Lindsay Ell. "To be a part of the MusiCounts Band Aid Program means so much, as I know how important music education was for me growing up. I might not have chose this as a career path had I not had such excellent music teachers and music programs. I truly believe that great music education has the power of positively enhancing a student’s experience at their school as well as their future."
The 2019 ACM New Female Artist of the Year nominee performed her hit songs "Good", “Criminal” and "Waiting On You" for the excited auditorium and participated in a Q&A with the students, where she shared her own experiences in music class. To date, MusiCounts has supported over 30 Calgary area schools and community organizations with over $350,000 in instrument grants, and contributed $1.2 million in musical instrument grants, scholarships and awards in Alberta.
The MusiCounts Band Aid Program awards musical instruments and equipment to schools who need them most, and in 2019 96 schools across Canada received $1 million in instruments and equipment. MusiCounts Band Aid Program applications open September 17, 2019 and interested schools can apply for up to $15,000 in instruments at musicounts.ca.
**To download hi-res images from the celebration, click here. (Photo credit: Tourbus Entertainment)
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About Lindsay Ell
Lauded as “one of the most exciting and talented young artists in Country Music” (Forbes), Lindsay Ell is a triple threat: accomplished musician, unique vocalist and songwriter. The multi-instrumentalist has toured alongside the likes of Luke Bryan, Buddy Guy, Brad Paisley, Sugarland and Keith Urban. Ell’s first full-length album The Project debuted at No. 1 on the Nielsen Soundscan Country Albums Chart and was named Billboard’s Best Country Album of 2017. Her single “Criminal” was the most added song at U.S. Country radio upon impact and became her first-ever Top 20 hit in the U.S., in addition to becoming her first No. 1 single on the Canadian Country radio charts. The four-time 2019 CCMA Award nominee’s latest song, a duet with Brantley Gilbert, “What Happens in a Small Town” is the first single off Gilbert’s latest album. It’s currently sitting top 15 and climbing at radio.
For more information visit: www.LindsayEll.com.
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 2019 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”, Radio Starmaker, the Government of Alberta, The City of Calgary and Tourism Calgary.
www.ccma.org
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 its 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 individuals and corporate citizens including and especially The Leadership Circle, TD Bank Group, Bell Media, SiriusXM Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, and The London JUNO Host Committee. 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 over $12,000,000 in support of music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted 1,200 schools and communities, supported nearly 400 post-secondary music program graduates, and honoured 14 extraordinary music teachers and three MusiCounts ambassadors.
www.musicounts.ca