First New Zealand Music Foundation recipients announced

First New Zealand Music Foundation recipients announced

It was a morning of firsts today as Don McGlashan and Spoilers of Utopia tried their hand at busking to tie in with The New Zealand Music Foundation’s (NZMF) first ever announcement of funding recipients.

The NZMF’s first round of grants were announced today with six excited entities receiving a share of more than $50,000. Although diverse in range, all recipients have one thing in common; they are using musical therapy to improve the lives of those in need.

Recipients of the inaugural grants are:

• The CeleBRation Choir (Auckland) – to assist in continuing to fund pioneering research into the benefits of singing, to those with neurological conditions.

• Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre (Auckland) – enabling the expansion of hours and services at the centre.

• StarJam (Auckland) – with funds going towards the charity’s expansion into Christchurch

• True Colours (Hamilton) – to allow the continuation of Music Therapy sessions for children and young people with serious, chronic or life-threatening illness in the Waikato region.

• Te Omanga Hospice (Wellington) – funds will be used to support a musical programme for patients and their families, to help them to deal with the issues of loss, grief and bereavement in palliative care.

• The Concert (Christchurch) – to allow the Student Volunteer Army to encourage volunteer behaviour in young people and reward 10,000 of them with a concert for completing registered volunteer time.

Foundation Chairman, Campbell Smith of CRS Music, is excited about the announcement.

“The grants are going to some fantastic causes and it’s a thrill for us to be able to help them help New Zealanders through music,” he says.

All the charities recognise the power of music and are part of a small minority in New Zealand putting it to good use, often in highly innovative ways.

Musical heavy weight and NZMF board member, Don McGlashan, says this morning’s busking event was the perfect way to acknowledge the power of music and celebrate the Foundation’s first major milestone.

“The Foundation has been set up to highlight the power music has to heal and rehabilitate people, no matter what their situation is. It’s a privilege to be involved with an organisation that is helping to enrich the lives of Kiwis through music.”

For more information on the Foundation, see www.musicfoundation.co.nz

ENDS

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