Bakerview Music Academy (BMA) in Abbotsford has begun a fundraising campaign to enable it to continue offering its full program for the next season.
Program director Heidi Epp said an “unexpected drop” in donations has impacted the academy.
“We have nearly 70 students from last year hoping to return … plus a wait list that grows weekly and highly gifted teaching artists who sacrifice prime teaching time in their personal schedules to contribute to this program that would be very difficult to retain again if we had to cut our program now,” she said.
Epp said the goal is to provide the full program for the 2025-26 season.
She said BMA has been applying for grants, and has also launched a new campaign to secure 100 donors – subscribing at $100 a month – in 100 days.
BMA is a registered charity and non-profit program founded in 2013 that provides Fraser Valley youth from Grades 2 to 12 access to full-bursary, after-school professional music instruction two days a week from September to May.
Students enjoy a nutritious snack followed by choir, musicianship and instrument classes on the violin, viola and cello.
BMA is a founding member of the Sistema Canada Network, which is partnered with the National Arts Centre of Canada and El Sistema USA.
Applications are accepted from all Abbotsford students, but priority is given to students from low-income, newcomer and single-parent families.
BMA won the Community Matters Awards through the school district in 2016 and a Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award for “innovative initiative” in 2020.
It is also approved as an Abbotsford school district community partner. The academy rents space from a church but is not religiously affiliated.
Visit bakerviewmusic.ca or email info@bakerviewmusic.ca for more information or to make a donation of any amount.
