Leveraging the power of music
Generous donors enable the expansion of educational programming and artist development initiatives
Many great performers have shared unforgettable moments with audiences at Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto. The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, the not-for-profit organization that operates the iconic venues and additional performance spaces in Allied Music Centre, is leveraging the power of music to bring people together and help foster a more connected and understanding society.
The Halls have a long history of hosting renowned artists across various genres, from legendary performers like Gordon Lightfoot and Joni Mitchell to contemporary stars like Olivia Rodrigo and the Jonas Brothers.
The organization’s vision is to be “a home for every artist and fan,” says Jesse Kumagai, president and CEO at The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall.
The recently completed Allied Music Centre, the revitalization of Massey Hall and the support of generous donors is motivating the growth and expansion of the charity’s educational programming and artist development initiatives such as the recently launched Artist in Residence program, adds Mr. Kumagai.
The first Artist in Residence participants are Celeigh Cardinal, Sebastian Gaskin and Julian Taylor.
“It’s a real honour and a privilege to be in the Halls – everyone who works there is a consummate professional,” says Mr. Taylor, who realized his lifelong dream of performing on the legendary Massey Hall Allan Slaight Stage for special shows like the Gordon Lightfoot and Neil Young tributes.
He is using the residency to develop and refine his live show.
“I’ve been given the opportunity to work with people who have been in business for a really long time and who have worked with a lot of professionals to enable me to hone in on what makes a live performance memorable and meaningful,” he says.
The award-winning singer and songwriter also played to a sold-out TD Music Hall show that was recorded live. Julian Taylor Band Live at TD Music Hall is the first album ever to be recorded, mixed and produced entirely in Allied Music Centre’s state-of-the-art facilities.
Education and engagement
Vanessa Smith, The Corporation’s director of Education and Community Engagement, says while the Halls have always been known for impacting communities through concerts, Education and Community Engagement programs have expanded in recent years, evolving from a single long-running program offering complimentary tickets, to a diverse range of initiatives focused on using music to connect, transform and inspire people. These initiatives aim to have a deep and lasting impact by nurturing creativity, building community and equipping participants with broadly applicable life skills.
That initial program, Share the Music, is still running and benefits over 3,000 young people annually, including free tickets, pre-show workshops and classroom resources.
“Introducing school-age children to professional music-making doesn’t just offer them a special night out – it shapes the way they see the world and their place in it. It helps them imagine different futures. It creates lasting impressions that influence their choices long after graduation,” says Veronika Belova, a teacher at Heydon Park Secondary School.
The expanded programming includes Call and Response, a 10-week after-school program that teaches art and life skills through workshops and culminates in student-led presentations; the Youth Musician Commission, a youth council that develops and runs its own musical programs, gaining valuable skills in areas like marketing and recording; and community engagement programs such as Learning English Through Song. This program for newcomers to Canada uses popular music – such as Louis Amstrong’s iconic What a Wonderful World and other toe-tapping tunes like Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) – as vehicles to work on vocabulary, pronunciation, expressions and idioms.
“This has been really great as both a fun group that encourages community building as well as a meaningful language learning experience,” says Ms. Smith. Currently run in partnership with Newcomer Women’s Services, there are plans to expand the program next year in collaboration with Community Music Schools of Toronto to make it accessible to participants from the Regent Park neighbourhood.
Another community engagement initiative is the Lullaby Project that pairs new and expectant parents with professional songwriters to create personalized lullabies. Currently the program is run in partnership with four community partners, with hopes to expand in the near future.
Donor support
“The way that I look at the support that we receive from a broad community of donors, foundations, sponsors and others, is they’re the ones who really help us move the organization forward. We rely on support for the mission-driven programming and for the physical spaces that empower those programs to realize their full creativity and provide the greatest connection for people,” says Mr. Kumagai. “If it wasn’t for their generosity, we wouldn’t be able to realize that original vision of being a place for all the fans and all the artists.”
Learn more: masseyhall.com; roythomsonhall.com
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