AEOLIAN HALL MUSICAL ARTS ASSOCIATION

Our Mission is 'Spreading music changing lives'. We believe that the Arts can enlighten inspire and transform. We believe in Universal Access to Music Art Culture Education and Community. And we believe that volunteerism is the highest form of giving back to the community. The anchor of our organization is our Heritage-site 300-seat theatre. Widely regarded as one of Canada’s best live venues for its size the Hall is a community hub for entertainment sought after by performers and loved by its clientele. To our state-of-the-art sound and lighting we added audio/video recording facilities in 2021 and two 50 seat lounges in 2022 to now provide 3 venues for event production. Our leased space in a downtown church houses our El Sistema Aeolian music education program now incorporating more than 100 children in a 5 day/week music education for children (aged from 6 to ```19) who would not otherwise have access to music education. We are fundraising for additional supplies to welcome a waiting list of 30 children. A caring community takes care of and educates its children particularly those more at-risk. The El Sistema Aeolian program (now 14 years old) is part of a global movement that offers free universal access to an intensive collaborative music education program. In our leased facility we are able to offer 5 day-per-week instruction through 5 orchestras 2 mixed choirs and in-person lessons. Meals and snacks are provided. Our participants learn quickly and participate in 10-12 concerts per year in various settings. There continues to be a strong demand for this program. Our 88 Keys to Inspiration program acquires unused but good-condition pianos from donors. The pianos are reconditioned and placed into homes of children who want to play but don't have the means to acquire an instrument. We place these at no charge to approved and seriously interested students giving joy and the opportunity to learn music to countless young people and their families. Our Aeolian Pride Chorus is part of a movement of LGBTQI+ Choirs in the world. Now numbering over 70 and welcoming participants of any gender identification we sing to enlighten and help those with closed minds and hearts open up to celebrate diversity and love.

This year brought new growth to the Aeolian: Our Songwriting Contest introduced 2 years ago went National last year bringing in over 100 entries from across Canada. A distinguished panel of 3 judges selected the 3 winners. We awarded cash prizes and marketing assistance in expanding their reach as songwriters. Our Aeolian Summer Jazz Festival Week enabled our audiences to meet 5 national headliners. And we mounted an outdoor street-festival for 2 days with 2 performance tents and food vendors. The El Sistema Aeolian program introduced a jazz band to its music mix and continues with its signature leadership program. Additional rooms and studios in our leased facility allow more classes and we are using most of the available space. Our e-newsletter with a weekly reach of over 10 000 continues in a magazine format with in-depth articles featuring the arts diversity and inclusion.