MEDIA RELEASE March 9, 2023
$106,700 OTF Grant Boosts London’s Status as Canada’s First UNESCO City of Music

London, ON – On March 9, local MPP Terence Kernaghan met with the Magisterra Soloists Artistic Director, Annette-Barbara Vogel, to hear more about the $106,700 Resilient Communities Fund Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that is being used to share the organization’s ongoing concert series with a wider audience. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected audience attendance at many cultural events; with this grant, Magisterra Soloists can produce high quality recordings of live performances to share on virtual platforms to boost engagement and appreciation of top quality chamber music.

"I am so happy to hear that Magisterra Soloists are receiving this well-deserved grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Featuring musicians from around the world, Magisterra Soloists have been invigorating our local arts community since 2016, putting on incredible performances and increasing access to music education and professional development through their programming. Congratulations to Magisterra Soloists and thank you for your hard work that keeps the arts thriving in London!", said London North Centre MPP Terence Kernaghan.

In addition, Magisterra Soloists is excited to create interactive educational outreach videos. Due to the Covid- 19 pandemic, Magisterra Soloists was forced to pause its highly successful live performances geared to students in JK through grade 8. Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the organization can create eight unique and engaging videos, in both English and French, to build children’s appreciation and understanding of music. Working in line with specific Ontario curriculum requirements, these programs will include instructional aids, including print materials and activities, making the online content user-friendly and flexible to meet various classroom needs.

"For us, this Ontario Trillium Foundation grant is everything,” said Annette-Barbara Vogel, Artistic Director of the Magisterra Soloists and world-class violinist. “Like many in the performing arts, the pandemic brought many challenges. This grant allows us to continue to foster a love of music in young children and facilitate musical education in a meaningful manner. Magisterra Soloists is committed to advance London’s cultural environment, building on the City’s recent UNESCO designation. We are grateful for our partnership with Museum London, so that we can continue to host outstanding musicians and put on engaging performances, and we want to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for allowing us to share these concert series with a much wider audience.”

Magisterra Soloists is committed to providing invaluable professional development to young talent. Through its interactive educational program, it reached thousands of local youth. Magisterra Soloists is particularly passionate about offering musical opportunities to underprivileged and rural school communities. In addition, the organization has become the face of visionary chamber music in Southern Ontario. It has offered over one hundred concert performances, with 35 international musicians from over thirteen countries. For more information on Magisterra’s events and concert series, visit www.magisterra.com.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, celebrates 40 years of grant making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Annette-Barbara Vogel, Artistic Director Magisterra Soloists
519-913-0002
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