Hamilton-based Astrid Hepner has created a program called “An Instrument for Every Child” offering free music lessons and instrument rentals to kids who can’t afford them.
Previously, Hepner founded the Hamilton Music Collective.
The program originated from a previous initiative Hepner introduced to elementary schools in which kids could try different instruments. Hepner says that music helped her feel a sense of community as an immigrant: “As an immigrant newcomer to Canada, I didn’t have a strong sense of belonging until I was able to connect to my community through music.”
Indeed, Hamilton is a city of newcomers—24% of the population is made up of immigrants, mostly from the UK, Italy and India. Between 1980 and 2016, 42% of Hamilton’s immigrants were economic immigrants, 31% were sponsored by family and 26% were refugees.
The chair of Hamilton Music Collective’s board of directors, Bob Miller, says the program has good name recognition. “I think that’s because it doesn’t reach only a kid who wants to be a musician, it reaches the whole person and in turn, reaches the whole community,” Miller says.