Earlier this year, the Kwalikum Secondary School (KSS) Senior Jazz Band performed at the Surrey Jazz Festival and won best senior jazz band, walking off the showcase stage to a spontaneous standing ovation from the entire audience, including the adjudicators.
They have since been invited to play at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in June and have also been invited to participate in MusicFest Canada.
READ MORE: Kwalikum Secondary students shine at jazz festival
MusicFest Canada, held in Ottawa this May, is an “invitation-only” music event where Canada’s outstanding musicians come together in an environment of learning and interaction, to celebrate their excellence in musical performance.
In order to attend, the senior jazz band are needing financial support. The cost to attend this event for 25 students is $1,650 per student, for a total of $41,050 and the event is from May 13 to 18.
The band collects donations through the KSS Fine Arts Society, a charitable non–profit organization, so tax receipts are available. They have raised $25,655 of the funds through their GoFundMe page, as well as through emails to friends, family and other community members, including the Town of Qualicum Beach, and recently a few of the band members played at The Gardens and the residents there have raised a few thousand dollars.
To receive a tax receipt, donors can make a cheque out to KSS Fine Arts Society and e-transfers are accetped at kssjazzband@gmail.com.
— NEWS staff, submitted
