Students across Canada are joining together through song.

 

Today is Music Monday, an annual event that celebrates music and raises awareness for music education.

Ingrid Pedersen is the arts education coordinator for Louis Riel School Division. She says the anthem this year is called Sing it Together and it focuses on the power of voices.

"It asks us to sing for joy, for truth, for healing, and for freedom," she says.

The anthem is sung by participants across the country. This year's anthem is written by Juno award winners Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas.

Nelson McIntyre band students, along with students from Marion, Archwood, and Nordale schools also performed a variety of tunes under the canopy at The Forks today. Pedersen says the performance was spearheaded by Nelson McIntyre band teacher Leslie MacCorby.

Pedersen emceed the event along with co-hosts James Atkinson (of J.H. Bruns) and Mariam Busari (of Winnipeg Collegiate). Atkinson says music is such an integral part of who he is as a person.

"Ever since I was little, you know, taking piano lessons and moving on to guitar, and bass and drums, and really just embracing that. I come from a family of musicians... it's always just been something I don't even think about, almost. I think for so many students it's just a way to relax after a long day, it's something that people look forward to. And I don't think it matters whether you're young or old, anyone can appreciate music, whether you're making music or writing music, or even just listening to it," says Atkinson.

Music Monday is sponsored by the Coalition for Music Education. It's been going since 2005.