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Royal Conservatory of Music Receives $2.8 Million Gift from Karen and Michael Vukets

By Michael Vincent on September 13, 2014

Karen and Michael Vukets
Karen and Michael Vukets

The Royal Conservatory of Music has announced it has received a major donation in the amount of $2.8 million from former RCM alumni Karen and Michael Vukets. The gift will be used to fund a new arts-based education initiative with Learning Through the Arts, named The Karen and Michael Vukets Public School Teacher Development Program.

The program is directed towards educators looking for new and innovative ways to engage students \from all backgrounds and abilities through dynamic music-based teaching methods. Besides fostering a love for music, these methods have been statistically shown to enhance core subjects such as math, science and English.

In the official press release issued by the RCM, Michael Vukets stated, “Ask someone to close their eyes and visualize their favourite song or piece of music. Watch the joy and peace that radiates from their face. Music brings joy to your life—it also enriches learning. Helping teachers learn how to use music to teach subjects like math and science has proven to significantly increase student engagement, which in turn leads to academic success and enhanced social behaviour. The key to a student’s development is getting them to engage in the classroom. Achieving this transformation begins with support for teachers.”

The gift comes in via The Royal Conservatory’s Growing Greatness Campaign initiative, which was launched on May 22, 2013.

According to Campaign Chair, Mr. Michael Koerner, the Growing Greatness Campaign supports the development of a new era of arts-based educational programs, and seeks to address issues of crucial importance to our nation.

The campaign intends to raise $40 million with the goal of increasing access to Royal Conservatory programs across Canada. Nearly $25 million has already been raised.

Dr. Peter Simon, President and CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music was quoted, “The establishment of The Karen and Michael Vukets Public School Teacher Development Program represents the latest phase in The Royal Conservatory’s 20-year effort to transform education through arts-based programs connecting learning to human development. It will help teachers across Canada build the knowledge and expertise needed to employ creative methodologies in their teaching. The Conservatory is grateful to Karen and Michael for their visionary support of this program and the Growing Greatness campaign.”

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent
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