FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2017 - Inspired by Canada's sesquicentennial celebration, the Coalition for Music Education will commemorate Canada's musical heritage with a new Music Monday anthem that celebrates the unifying power of music. Commissioned by the Coalition for Music Education, the new anthem is co-written by award-winning songwriters Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas. Entitled Sing It Together, the new anthem unveiled today is available in various languages and arrangements to be used in this year's Music Monday celebration. Music Monday takes place Monday, May 1, 2017 in cities across the country, anchored by a showcase event in Ottawa, ON. Over the past 12 years, millions of voices have joined together on Music Monday to raise awareness about the value of learning music for children and youth in our schools and communities," says Holly Nimmons, Executive Director, Coalition for Music Education in Canada. "Music lives in every community of our country. It's like a heartbeat across our nation, connecting music makers of all generations and backgrounds. What better way to celebrate the country's 150th year than with a coast-to-coast-to-coast event that unites us as we 'Sing It Together'?"   The 2017 Music Monday sing-along will be led by a live-streamed national showcase concert from our nation's capital in Ottawa, in recognition of the sesquicentennial year. It will also continue last year's #MMC2C2C initiative with a day-long webcast of videos from music programs. This year, the webcast includes the northern coast-line that is home to many indigenous people.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   Sing It Together is a collaboration between JUNO award winning, veteran songwriters Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas. Jordan is a singer-songwriter, producer, actor who is Songwriter Chair at the Slaight Family Music Lab, Canadian Film Centre. His songs have been on 35 million CDs, and he has written many hit songs for international artists such as Rod Stewart (currently writing with Stewart for his next album) and Amanda Marshall (Fall From Grace). Co-writer Ian Thomas has many Top 20 records, written for international artists, composed for 22 feature films and been honored witha JUNO Award, four SOCAN classic awards (including 2014 National Achievement Award for excellence in songwriting), and a UNICEF Humanitarian Award.   Focusing on the power of voices, Sing It Together asks us to sing for joy, for truth, for healing and for freedom. The recording and video feature Inuit throat singing, Métis fiddling, indigenous drumming, and children's choirs in celebration of Canadian musical heritages. Creating Sing It Together was a journey of discovery and the songwriters encourage music makers to continue this discovery where music lives in their schools and communities "Music is the landscape of Canada," explains Marc Jordan. "We hope it will be a song that illuminates the mosaic of music and cultures that thrive in every corner of the country". Sing It Together was recorded at Canterbury Music and includes highly-respected, experienced Canadian musicians. It also features Youth4Music musicians and advocates who are part of a national network of youth leaders. Youth4Music promotes the importance of learning, creating, making and valuing music in Canada. Visitors to the Music Monday website (www.musicmonday.ca) can view the video of the original recording of Sing It Together, download music and lyrics, and register to add their voice in the annual celebration.   Those wishing to participate in Music Monday 2017 are invited to visit www.musicmonday.ca for more information and to find ways to get involved, such as learning "Sing It Together" to join in the nationwide sing-along, creating a school or community event, or submitting a video to be included in the nationwide #MMC2C2C webcast on Music Monday. Videos must be from within Canada and relate to Canadian schools, music groups, businesses or community programs. Preference will be given to performances of Canadian music.   Music Monday is made possible with the generous support of the Government of Canada, TD Bank Group, and the NAMM Foundation as well as Titanium level support from Yamaha Canada Music Inc., Long and McQuad and all of our partner organizations. For a full list of sponsors please visit:   JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #MMC2C Twitter: @musicmakesus_ca Instagram: @musicmakesus_ca Facebook: www.facebook.com/MusicMakesUs.ca

January 26, 27, 28 of 2017 will see the 14th consecutive running of the Irish Pavilion for the Westman Multicultural Festival. The Irish Society of Western Manitoba has gathered approximately 100 volunteers to contribute to a high energy, continuous and entertaining display of Irish culture. Located at the Royal Oak Inn and Suites on Victoria Avenue, you'll have plenty to eat: Irish Stew, barmbrack, soda bread, scones, short bread cookies and more. Come see the musical acts we have to offer, seven different acts in all: Tom Foolery, Seamus Ojibway, Shameless Folk, Tame Fox, MNM, Cribreagh and more. Lots of great fiddle players on tap! Also on tap, let us pour you a drink from one! Guinness, Kilkenny, Harp and other beer. Bush Mills, Jameson whiskeys, Irish Coffee and other types of "The Drink" available. While you enjoy a beverage, browse a wide selection of Irish souvenirs at Mr. Osborne's shop "A Little Bit of Ireland". And let's not forget the world class and world traveling McConnell School of Dance. This group was the only Canadian Irish Dance troupe to be invited to Ireland for "Gathering 2013", a Ireland-wide homecoming event, where they toured and performed. Whether competing in Pennsylvania or performing in Peru, this group of Winnipeg and Brandon dancers will wow the audience with fancy costumes and fancier steps. Our venue is family friendly! Bring a group of friends and help us help the community while celebrating Irish culture. All proceeds donated back to worthy local causes. Please see irishsocietyofwm.org for more details.  

For Immediate Release - The Westman Multicultural Festival (formerly the Lieutenant Governor’s Winter Festival) is pleased to announce the dates for the 14th annual event. The 2017 Festival will be held January 26, 27 and 28. Over the years, Westman residents have become accustomed to celebrating the broad cultural diversity within our community as they visit the various host pavilions at locations throughout the city. This signature event in Brandon has become a welcome winter respite as festival goers enjoy warm friendship, food, beverages, entertainment, art and customs from around the world. This year, seven pavilions will be part in the three-day festival. This includes the Scottish, Mauritius, Irish, English, Filipino, Ukrainian and Honduran pavilions. Admission to each pavilion is free, making this a very popular, inclusive, family event. Last year, 32,000 people attended! The festival is entirely run by volunteers recruited by the various cultural societies and associations that host the pavilions. It generally takes over 1000 volunteers to help make the festival as successful as it’s been. This year’s event is being organized by the Westman Multicultural Festival Society. The organizing committee chose to change the name of the event to be more inclusive to guests outside the city of Brandon and to better depict what the event encompasses. Details on the Westman Multicultural Festival can be found on the new website: www.gotothepavilions.com. Follow them on Twitter @wmmfest, on Instagram and Faceook / wmmfest. #gotothepavilions #pavilions2017 For more information: Sandy Donald, Vice-Chair amd@mymts.net 204.724.5743 Wanda Kurchaba, Secretary kurch@wcgwave.ca 204.720.8177 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

If you're looking for the best Christmas Light display in Brandon then you owe it to yourself to check out the impressive light and sound show at 239 Princess Ave E. Homeowner, Jason Cross and family, are responsible for this iconic light show, which features 1,776 lights synchronized to some rocking Christmas tunes coming through your very own car radio (104.1 FM). Most of the lights are individually controllable, meaning they have 5,161 channels of lighting to play with. This is the fifth year the Cross family have done a display and they have built it up slowly, over the years, usually adding only one or two new elements per year. This is their first year doing "singing elements" where they have characters (singing light-bulbs) that actually mouth the words to the songs that are playing. He estimates that when you watch one of his four minute songs that it has likely taken at least 40 hours of sequencing (programming) to make it all work. They use specialized software, and program the entire show, one bulb at a time to do whatever they want. Currently they have 2 songs in the show... but are hoping to finish a third one before Christmas. Jason tells BDNMB.CA that he got interested in completing a project like this after “a friend shared a post on Facebook about 6 years ago with the singing pumpkin faces from the states. I saw that and thought it was something I could do, so I spent months researching and making friends on internet forums”. This year alone he figures spending 10 hours per singing light-bulb to cut, drill, push 230 little bulbs through the holes, wire and test. With his experience in tackling these types of projects Jason is now part of a fast growing community of enthusiasts, and hobbiests, that share their knowledge and skills to help people all over the world get into the Christmas lighting spirit. Although they do not have a donation collection box the family does something receive the odd donation in Christmas cards from visitors and all donation received go to Muscular Dystrophy. The Cross' son, Cayden, is turning four and both Cayden, and his mother, suffer from Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy so it is close to their hearts. Show Times: Sunday-Thursday: 5pm until 10pm Friday-Saturday: 5pm until 11pm Show Dates: Dec 2 2016 through Jan 6 2017 Songs: 12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser Disco Santa by the Village People Tune your radio to 104.1FM to listen. www.crosslights.ca