David Foster joins fight to save music in Greater Victoria School District – Victoria News

Victoria-born, 16-time Grammy winning musician David Foster penned a letter to the Greater Victoria School District May 7 urging them not to cut music programs. (THE CANADIAN PRESS)David Foster joins fight to save music in Greater Victoria School District‘Music is the great equalizer’ Foster wrote in a letter to the districtJANE SKRYPNEKMay. 15, 2021 3:30 p.m.COMMUNITY Victoria-born, 16-time Grammy winning musician David Foster has added his voice to the chorus of community members calling on the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) not to make its proposed music program cuts.In a letter penned to the district and minister of education May 7, Foster said if it wasn’t for the music education he received at Mount Douglas Secondary School his career trajectory would likely be quite different.In its original budget draft, the district proposed cutting $1.5 million from elementary and middle school music programs, eliminating all of them except a Grade 8 band class. But, following weeks of protests and feedback, the board decided to reduce the cut to $1 million allowing for band in Grades 6 to 8. Choir and strings programs remain on the chopping block.Music, Foster said, is the great equalizer and all children, regardless of family income, should have access to it.“Music is one of the most thoughtful and reflective forms of creative expression, and it should be available to everyone,” he wrote.

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