Canadian Music Trade - October/November 201 | Page 21

While on tour in July, JUNO- and Polaris Prize-nominated musician Danny Michel realized he had left his prized 1963 Gibson B-25 acoustic guitar in a parking lot in Barrie, ON. Desperate to recover the instrument, he put out a plea on social media. In a post that included the guitar’s details and his contact info, Michel added, “Estimated book value $2500-$3000. Sentimental value = priceless.” Mi- chel’s Facebook post got shared over 1,000 times and made its way to a local baker, Bruno Alonzi of Bruno’s Bakery & Café. “WE FOUND IT! Incredible!!!!! The power of social media! I have the best fans in the world! Thanks to over 1000 shares Bruno Alonzi saw it online and sent me this email! ‘Found your guitar sitting all alone in the parking lot. Would love to see it back to you, will gladly return it. Call me 647….’” Michel wrote on Facebook a few days later, adding; “I just got off the phone with Bruno who owns Bruno’s Bakery and Cafe in Innisfil. Bruno is my hero! I’m going to meet on Thursday to get my baby back and buy 500 cakes! Cakes for all my friends!!!” Social Media & Honest Baker Help Danny Michel Recover Lost Guitar DANNY MICHEL (LEFT) & BRUNO ALONZI Hedley Joins MusiCounts & Band Aid Program Winners JUNO Award-winning band Hedley joined MusiCounts for a special celebration of the 2016-2017 Band Aid Program recipi- ents funded by The Slaight Family Foundation. Queen Alexandra Middle School in Toronto hosted the festivities, where Hedley surprised students with $10,000 worth of new instruments for the school’s music program and took part in special workshops with the music class. Hedley then took the stage for a surprise performance. “This has been such a memorable experience and we are so happy to have been a part of it. It’s rewarding for us as musicians to be able to give these students new instruments through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program. Music has the ability to enhance a young person’s mind and inspire their creativity,” says Hedley frontman Jacob Hoggard. David Krygier-Baum, Queen Alexandra Middle School’s music teacher, spoke about the school’s music program and led students in a performance. Three additional Toronto area schools were also in attendance, having received instruments through The Slaight Family Foundation’s support of the MusiCounts Band Aid Program. For more information, contact www.musicounts.ca. Wentworth Music Raises Over $183K for Local Hospital Through its student rock concerts, which are held twice a year, Went- worth Music in Kelowna, BC has been raising money for the children’s ward at the Kelowna General Hospital. The company has now an- nounced that it has surpassed its latest goal of $180,000 and set a new goal of $200,000. Wentworth’s rock concert productions consist of 200-plus students in large bands of 11 or more people performing for sold-out audiences of more than 850. “We take all proceeds after expenses and donate the money to the Kelowna General Hospital to help children,” Noel Wentworth, VP of education/media at Wentworth Music, tells Canadian Music Trade. After nine years of shows, the total raised is now $183,819. “We love making dreams happen for everyone. It’s a true win-win, win-win.” (L-R) NOEL WENTWORTH, DALE WENTWORTH, NORI WENTWORTH & NEIL WENTWORTH SEND US YOUR PERSONAL UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS! Retailers, reps, suppliers, educators, and other trade professionals are encouraged to send us personal stories about themselves or their colleagues that we can share with your peers in the industry. Tips on weddings, anniversaries, major milestones, awards, births, new initiatives, and other achievements are all welcome and appreciated! Please send your stories to [email protected] and we’ll handle the rest! CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 21