MusiCounts makes historic $1.4 million investment in music education amid growing financial pressures in Canadian schools

The JUNO Awards and CARAS-associated charity is sustaining music education with systemic intervention and a mission to provide music education for all kids

TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2026 /CNW/ -- MusiCounts is making history with a massive investment in Canadian music education. 96 schools across the country will receive funding totalling $1.4 million via the MusiCounts School Music Funding Programs. This is the charity's largest investment to date. 

"Every year, we hear from teachers working to deliver meaningful music education with extremely limited resources, some with annual music budgets of $500 or less to serve hundreds of students," says Regan Harney, MusiCounts Executive Director. "With budgets stretched this thin, schools often have to focus their resources on maintaining instruments that have already been in use for many years, leaving little room to expand or enhance their programs. A MusiCounts grant of $15,000 to $20,000 can be transformative: it can help establish a full K–6 elementary music program, purchase concert band instruments that will serve students for years to come, introduce culturally connected programming, or bring new technology into the classroom. These investments give educators more tools to engage students and help young people build practical, transferable skills through music."

The team at MusiCounts is focused on building funding momentum at a time when Canadian school boards and universities are navigating significant financial pressures and competing priorities. To date, MusiCounts has allocated nearly $22 million in musical instruments and resources in every province and territory. 

Harney adds, "We're celebrating our 30th anniversary in 2027, and we're honoured to be able to demonstrate the monumental impact of MusiCounts' work over the last three decades. An enriching music education does more than develop musical ability; it helps young people build the emotional well-being, interpersonal skills, and capabilities they need to thrive in life and work. Nurturing the future of the Canadian music industry via an arts education can result in more jobs and economic growth - ultimately, communities thrive where there is music education. We need this now, more than ever." 

This year, Manitoban performing arts school teacher Madly Friesen and the students at Faraday School in Winnipeg's North End received a MusiCounts School Music Funding Programs grant of $18,000 in support of the teacher's mission to develop the school's general music education program. "This grant fuels the imagination and the experience the kids can have," says Friesen. "I want to build a class so amazing that the students can't wait to come in from recess." 

The 56th Annual JUNO Awards will be hosted from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, MB on April 4, 2027, where the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award winner will be announced on Broadcast,live on CBC TV, CBC Gem, and globally on CBC Music's YouTube.

To view a full list of 2026 MusiCounts School Funding Recipient schools, visit: musicounts.ca/smfp2026. 

Applications for the 2027 MusiCounts School Music Funding Programs are now open. To learn more about MusiCounts or how to make a donation, visit musicounts.ca. 

About MusiCounts: MusiCounts is Canada's music education charity associated with CARAS and the JUNO Awards. MusiCounts' vision is to ensure that all youth in Canada have access to music education, instruments and resources through their schools and communities. MusiCounts creates educational resources for teachers and students; empowers young people to pursue music as a career; and celebrates teachers, artists, and philanthropists who champion music education. Since 1997, MusiCounts has awarded nearly $22,000,000 in support of music education in Canada. Visit musicounts.ca.

SOURCE MusiCounts

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