FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH
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Dear Friends,
Do you have memories of some formative musical experiences from when you were young? I remember a few - like playing in my first musical group at age 6 (in my case, all violins + a single guitar), hearing my first concert in a "big" concert hall, and countless experiences listening to live musical experiences on the radio (the "old" CBC). My first violin teacher used to record some radio programs for me on audio cassettes and give them to me at my weekly lessons to listen to. I still have some of those, and when I come across them when organizing/re-organizing my home office space, I can't help but be filled with a sense of deep happiness and contentment.
We never know what will spark a child's imagination, but as a parent one is likely to give your child every possible exposure to all the world offers. In my mind, music is one of (if not the) most powerful things that a child can be exposed to that has the potential to lead to a lifetime of fulfillment. Not everyone needs to become the next Justin Bieber or Yo-Yo Ma for their lives to be eminently richer through music. This summer at SSM we have a large set of offerings for children, as well as some that feature young artists in significant ways.
First up, our concerts for children at Stratford Perth Museum this year will showcase three terrific events that we are proud to say remain free of charge! Last year we had more than four times the people show up than expected. Clearly there's a need we're fulfilling here, see our website for all our family programming.
Here's one of those events - Chris McKhool's "Little Leaf":
SSM has also been dedicated to giving performance opportunities for young up-and-coming artists since before I was ever involved with the organization (thank you John Miller!). This year we have both our Academies in full swing (pun intended for one of them). The Vocal Academy will be led by the superb Marcus Nance (who doesn't love Marcus Nance?) and our Jazz Academy will feature the return of our beloved pan-Canadian all-stars. The students involved in both academies will be given performance opportunities both in masterclasses and concert settings. Here's more info:
I’ll have more to tell you about how we’re impacting youth in the next few weeks as we announce a special relationship with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada that will feature a multitude of famous Canadian musicians… stay tuned!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Mark and the SSM Team
Supporter Highlight
"I live in Stratford. Music and Art have always been a big part of my life. I play piano and being a Chef owning my own restaurant lets me express myself artistically. My daughter plays guitar, writes music, and draws. Stratford Summer Music is important for our community to come witness their talents." - Kim Faust, Owner/Operator of The Sugar Maple Restaurant
We’re incredibly grateful to The Sugar Maple Restaurant for supporting our 2026 season! Your generosity means so much to our team and community. Thank you for believing in our mission and helping make another amazing season possible.
Support Our 2026 Season
Exciting things are on the horizon for Stratford Summer Music 2026! From thrilling new performances to signature SSM experiences, the upcoming season is shaping up to be one of our most dynamic yet. We’re now welcoming sponsors who want to be a part of the magic. Whether you’re an individual supporter or a business wanting visibility in a vibrant cultural setting, we’d love to share how you can get involved. For more information or to confirm your sponsorship, contact cspicer@stratfordsummermusic.ca