Music Department Wins Grand Prize, $10 000!

By: Ben 

            The Dunnville Secondary School (DSS) Music department was awarded a $10 000 grant last week.  This came as a result of numerous letters, written last year by students, teachers, and community members, about Dunnville's music program, the condition of the instruments and equipment, and how they would benefit from the grant.  These letters were submitted, along with an application, to Musicounts, an affiliate of the Juno Awards.

            Musicounts is a strong advocate of music programs in Canadian schools.  This year, they distributed $600 000 to 85 schools across Canada.  The grants are given to elementary, junior high and high schools.  Noria Temple, Music Rep. from St. John's Music, first proposed the idea of applying one year ago to Jeanne Spencer, music teacher at DSS.  She encouraged her classes, colleagues and community members to write letters of support to Musicounts and the result was nothing short of amazing.

            All of the money is going towards replacing the school's instruments and equipment, much of which is 30 years old.  The new instruments will be coming from St. John's Music, a company that does much of the current instrument repairs and played a key role in receiving the money. "The DSS music department can not thank the generosity of Musicounts to make this dream come true," said Spencer.  "This organization has given DSS an opportunity to have a music program that can thrive."