MEDIA ADVISORY: MusiCounts To Celebrate 2019 Community Music Program Recipients In Parry Sound

**The below information has not been publicly shared and is under strict embargo until 1:00p.m. EST on September 17, 2019**

TORONTO, ON– On September 17, MusiCounts, Canada’s leading music education charity, will celebrate the announcement of the 2019 MusiCounts TD Community Music Program recipient organizations at Strings Across the Sky in Parry Sound, ON. A total of 37 community organizations nationwide, including Spirit Across the Sky, will receive $500,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment, benefitting 7,000 youth participants. The celebration will also feature a performance by members of Strings Across the Sky. 

Strings Across the Sky strives to rekindle and sustain the cultural traditions of fiddle music, which once thrived in Indigenous communities across Canada. For more than 30 years, hundreds of children have benefited from the music education provided by Strings Across the Sky, promoting self-esteem and accomplishment, co-operation, empathy, teamwork and improved academics through music. 

The MusiCounts TD Community Music Program provides musical instruments and equipment to community centres, after-school programs and other community non-profit organizations. With this new announcement of recipients, the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program will have supported 177 community organizations across Canada with over $2.64 million in instruments and equipment.
 

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About TD Global Corporate Citizenship
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. In March 2018, TD launched The Ready Commitment, a new multi-year program to help individuals and communities prosper. As part of The Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for an inclusive tomorrow – Financial Security, a more Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through The Ready Commitment, TD's aspiration is to link business, products, services, and community giving to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but about their future and their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/thereadycommitment
 

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