Join the National Arts Centre in celebrating the 10^th anniversary of Canada's Music Monday! The NAC in partnership with the Coalition for Music Education in Canada will celebrate Music Monday with a LIVE Showcase Concert and Webcast linking special events in 10 cities across Canada.

The National Arts Centre in partnership with the Coalition for Music Education in Canada will celebrate Music Monday with a live showcase concert and webcast linking special events in 10 cities across Canada. Approximately 450 local students in the NAC Foyer will join hundreds of thousands of children singing across the country in celebration of music education as part of the 10th anniversary of Music Monday at noon on May 5, 2014. 

Hosted by CBC Ottawa anchor Lucy van Oldenbarneveld and young trumpet student Malcolm Horava, the free public event will also feature award-winning Franco-Ontarian artist YAO, flamenco guitarist Servantes, a string quintet of players from the NAC Orchestra, and the Stellae Boreales violin ensemble. MP and singer-songwriter Andrew Cash will be on hand to lend an official stamp on the celebrations.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson will proclaim May 5th 2014 to be Music Monday in Ottawa. This marks the 10th year in a row that National Arts Centre will join the Coalition for Music Education along with hundreds of thousands of community members in the National Capital Region and across the country in a nation-wide sing-along which highlights the importance of learning music for young people in Canada.

At approximately 12:45 p.m., Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield will join the webcast along with thousands across the nation in singing the official Music Monday theme song entitled I.S.S. – Is Somebody Singing/Quelqu’un Chante. Commissioned by the Coalition for Music Education and CBC Music, the song was written by Hadfield, former Canadian Commander of the International Space Station, and Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies. I.S.S., also the acronym for International Space Station, premiered on CBC Music on February 8, 2013 and was the first space-earth song premiere in history, with Hadfield performing in space and Robertson and the Barenaked Ladies on Earth.

The NAC’s Music Monday massed choir includes children from local elementary schools and youth choirs to perform alongside the Cantiamo Girls Choir, the Cantiamo Training Choir and the Ottawa Children’s Choir under the direction of Jackie Hawley. Participating choirs include: Adrienne Clarkson Elementary School; Avalon Public School; Blossom Park Public School Glee Club; Bridlewood Community Elementary School; Broadview Avenue Public School; Goulbourn Jubilee Juniors; Henry Larsen Public School; Land O'Lakes Public School (from Mountain Grove, ON); Loughborough Public School (from Syndenham, ON); and March Academy.

The NAC’s participation in Music Monday is made possible by support from the Friends of the NAC Orchestra. The NAC is proud to partner with the Coalition for Music Education in Canada for this event. The videoconference connection to the National Arts Centre is made possible by the NAC's distance learning studio, Hexagon.

What is Music Monday?

The Coalition for Music Education created Music Monday to:

• celebrate the importance of music in our lives and especially in our schools, and
• celebrate the galvanizing power of music and demonstrate how that power is rooted in school music programs.

Music education is a powerful tool for engagement, harmony, creativity and achievement in our young people.  Music Monday is a tangible demonstration of how music programs unite us, shape young lives and contribute to the cultural vitality of Canada.

Music Monday highlights the importance of music education and the need to protect and enhance quality music programs for every child in Canadian schools.

On the first Monday in May, hundreds of thousands of young music makers across Canada will unite in song for the 10^th annual Music Monday celebration.  Celebrations will take place at the grassroots community level and a nation-wide Showcase webcast.

• Hundreds of concerts take place in schools and communities from coast to coast by students, teachers, and music-makers. 
• The official Music Monday song (2013/2014) - “I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)” was commissioned by the Coalition and CBCMusic, and written by Chris Hadfield – the first Canadian Commander of the International Space Station – and Ed Robertson of The Barenaked Ladies.

Visit MusicMonday.ca for additional details about Music Monday and the 10^th anniversary Showcase Webcast!