MOOSE JAW — A new organization dedicated to enriching music education in Moose Jaw’s Catholic schools has struck its first chord following a successful inaugural fundraiser.
Now, with momentum on its side, the association is eager to amplify its presence and share its mission.
The Moose Jaw Catholic Schools Music Association (MJCSMA) launched its bottle drive on the weekend of Feb. 8 to 9 to help fund opportunities for young musicians in the community.
Chairwoman Michelle Schwartz said the event was an important first step for the group, which formed in 2024.
“We’ve had our inaugural fundraiser, which was the bottle drive, and we’ve done a few different gift baskets at some of our music events with donations from places like the Kabayan Sari-Sari Store, Wendy’s, Running Wild Rescue, (and) Laura Hamilton Art, so we’ve (received) good support that way,” Schwartz said.
“These are local kids doing local things for their community,” she added, noting that these students are incredibly talented and this support gives them the opportunities they deserve.
The MJCSMA was founded by a group of dedicated parents who came together to form a band and choir support association to enhance music programs in local elementary and high schools. While schools provide basic music instruction, Schwartz said much of the further enrichment — such as travel, festival participation, and professional concert attendance — relies on extra fundraising.
“There’s so much that goes into running a band program, and it relies heavily on extra parent support to make things happen,” she explained, noting that fundraising typically falls on teachers who are often constrained by time, busy workloads, and limited resources.
The association’s efforts ensure that young musicians can benefit from the same level of support that other band programs receive, thereby fostering musical growth and community engagement.
“A lot of the extras that other band groups have is because of (this) parent support,” she noted.
One early goal is for students to hear the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) and experience other performances at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, Sask. In future, the group hopes to fund trips to music festivals in Saskatoon, Calgary, or even further.
“Our current band instructor, Mr. (David) Selensky, has experience travelling to Seattle, Chicago, Banff, and all these wonderful places. So… we have some pretty big goals right now that we would like to achieve,” she said. “But we’ve got to get our fundraising dollars up first.”
Many residents may not realize that students involved in the MJCSMA already play a significant role in the community. Each year, , an event Schwartz described as “everything” to some individuals.
The association also supports existing events such as the three annual , early in the fall semester, and at Christmas.
Following the success of the association’s first fundraising project — which drew strong support despite a little friendly competition from two other unexpected bottle drives over the same weekend — Schwartz expressed her gratitude.
“We want to thank the community for contributing… to our first bottle drive fundraiser,” she said appreciatively.
If you’re interested in supporting the new association but missed the earlier bottle drive, MJCSMA has established that can be accessed anywhere in the province through the code “MJCSMA.”
The Moose Jaw Catholic Schools Music Association is also open to community partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact [email protected].
