Bakerview Music Academy (BMA) is a non-profit, El Sistema-based program offering free after-school group music lessons for children in Abbotsford, BC. We are funded entirely by grants and donations. Since our inaugural year in 2013, our students have been taught by professional music teachers twice a week from September to May at no cost to their families. Their afternoon begins with a nutritious snack, followed by choir, Orff, and instrument classes on the violin, viola, and cello. It costs roughly $1,700 per student for the whole school year, so your donation to the BMA Society makes a real difference right here in the beautiful Fraser Valley of British Columbia.

Admission to BMA is open to all Abbotsford students and we give preference to applicants from low-income families, single-parent families, and large families. Students are accepted based on need; there is no audition process. Among our current students, we have children who are new to Canada and many who are Canadian by birth but representative of a wide variety of cultures. Countless studies demonstrate that children who take music lessons perform better academically and socially. Often cost is a barrier and typically lower income families would not have access to classical music studies. We are proud that BMA levels the playing field.

Our mission is to build up Abbotsford kids by making music together. In addition to giving students from all backgrounds the wonderful gift of making music in a safe space, we also empower our students as they learn self-expression, achievement, teamwork, and leadership. Every year, BMA participates in local events so that our students learn the benefits of giving back to the community.