Today, May 7th, is Youth Mental Health Day, and during this time of COVID, youth are finding it especially difficult.
Even before COVID, music programs in schools had been cut back despite the scientific facts that music helps with math and social skills.
The Apollo Initiative is a collective of British Columbia youth orchestras that have recorded a new work, Apollo, by Canadian composer Jordan Nobles that was commissioned and composed specifically for the 350 participating youth musicians working with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
The work includes ensembles of Coquitlam Youth Orchestra, Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, Langley Community Music School Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra, Surrey Youth Orchestra, and the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.
The goals of the Initiative are to raise funds in support of youth mental health in British Columbia, under the auspices of the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division (CMHA) to support the mental wellness of youth, many of whom look to their participation in music as an important tool in their mental wellness strategy. It is also to provide a musical goal and to keep the students motivated in this unusual time and to facilitate a social connection for youth during social distancing.
To watch the performance live at 3:00 p.m. go to: You Tube link above OR https://www.facebook.com/ApolloInitiativeBC
To donate to youth mental health … CLICK HERE
