Sarah McLachlan School of Music Joins Berklee City Music Network

BOSTON, Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Berklee City Music Network announces its newest Network member, Vancouver-based Sarah McLachlan School of Music. With a commitment to providing music education to underserved and at-risk youth at no cost, the Sarah McLachlan School of Music becomes the 43^rd site, and first international site, to join the Berklee City Music Network. Together, the Berklee City Music Network sites provide a pathway to higher education by engaging passionate, talented youth in underserved communities in a contemporary music education program.

"It's a great honour for the Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM) to be recognized as the first international site of Berklee City Music Network.  Through our shared vision, SoM and Berklee City Music Program come together in the belief of the power of music to foster young people: their life skills, leadership, community and creative thinking, in an ever-changing world," Sarah McLachlan, singer-songwriter, and founder of Sarah McLachlan School of Music, said.

Berklee City Music is a nonprofit program that harnesses the energy of contemporary music to provide free education to 4th through 12th graders in underserved communities at 43 Network sites, reaching more than 16,000 students in the United States and Canada. The Sarah McLachlan School of Music joins this consortium of like-minded music programs that meet Berklee City Music's criteria, including:

• a commitment to providing opportunities;
• a means of creating social value with music resources to youth from underserved communities;
• a clearly articulated commitment to contemporary music education;
• are well-established and favorably regarded in their community;
• and provide well-maintained program facilities suitable for delivering a high-quality music education in a safe environment.

"We are proud and excited by the confidence the Sarah McLachlan School places in the Berklee City Music mission, indicative of their election to seek membership in what now has become an international initiative; we look forward to the partnership and learning from the incredible work they, too, have been doing to reach underserved communities with the gift of music education," J. Curtis Warner, Jr., Executive Director, Berklee City Music, said.

As a member, The Sarah McLachlan School of Music also becomes part of a virtual network that offers instant access to the Berklee PULSE™ Music Method, a proprietary online music education platform, as well as webcasting and videoconferencing technologies to provide face-to-face interaction between Berklee City Music Network students at member sites, and faculty and students at Berklee College of Music and Berklee City Music in Boston.

"We are so honored to have the Sarah McLachlan School of Music join the Network and we look forward to seeing young people from across North America develop their musical skills and self-confidence through our system.  With leaders like Sarah McLachlan, whose passion and commitment to music education for youth is so strong, the City Music Program has never been more energized to fulfill its deeply purposeful mission," Mark Campbell, Vice President for Enrollment, Berklee College of Music, said.

About Berklee City Music
Berklee City Music is a nonprofit program that harnesses the energy of contemporary music to provide music education to 4th through 12th graders in underserved communities at 43 Network sites, educating more than 16,000 students across the country. With year-round instruction, the Berklee PULSE™ Music Method online music education platform, expert faculty, individualized mentoring and a comprehensive curriculum, Berklee City Music combines the breadth of Berklee College of Music resources, facilities and available scholarships with an environment of attention and encouragement.  Youth receive the tools and support they need to flourish as students, musicians and, perhaps most importantly, as confident and well-rounded individuals, ready to shape the world. Since its inception, Berklee City Music has awarded scholarships to more than 1000 students to attend the Five-Week Summer Performance program. In 2012, Berklee City Music provided more than 100 summer program scholarships and hopes to award more than 20 full scholarships to attend Berklee College of Music. www.berkleecitymusicnetwork.org

About Sarah McLachlan School of Music
Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM) is an after-school music program offered at no cost to Vancouver children and youth in underserved schools and communities.  Since 2002, students in grades 4 - 12 have received sustained, high quality music instruction in both contemporary and classical traditions, in guitar, piano, percussion, voice, choir, songwriting, ensemble, music and video production, DJing, beatboxing, and electronic music. Guided by the vision of founder and international singer/songwriter, Sarah McLachlan, SoM is founded on the belief in the enriching power of music and the importance of creative community.  It is a place where young people can explore their creative potential, connect with others and develop a greater sense of self. www.sarahschoolofmusic.com

SOURCE Berklee City Music