Micro-Grant and Fellowship Program 2024-25
Micro-Grant 2024-2025 Projects
The SoundLife Scarborough Micro-Grants and Fellowship Program supports community organizations and artists, and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University of Toronto. It supports music programming and/or research development with Youth Mental Health & Wellness at its core, and corresponds with one or more of SLS’s values of community, access, reciprocity, and flexible music-making. Micro-Grant applicants may propose a stand-alone project or dovetail with larger community and/or academic initiatives.
Bollywood Tadka on Uke: Ukelele Music-Making Sessions for Youth
Bollywood Tadka on Uke (BTU) is a weekly mental well-being session of ukulele music-making through Hindi songs. The positive effects of music on mental health has been well researched. In an East meets West approach, we want to attempt to ease integration of immigrants in their new life in Canada, and reduce stress through musical sessions. Furthermore, second and subsequent generations of South Asian origin can learn more about the musical culture of their families. BTU will help foster a sense of community and belonging for people of all ages, from ukulele enthusiasts to amateurs.
The Community Music Schools of Toronto KUNÉ Percussion Project
The CMST KUNÉ Percussion Project will be an exciting new collaboration with KUNÉ Orchestra members, where Community Music Schools of Toronto percussion students will explore and experiment with various musical traditions, rhythms and instruments, thereby expanding their musical perspectives beyond traditional boundaries. KUNÉ, Canada’s Global Orchestra, explores and celebrates Canada’s cultural diversity, and CMST Percussion Ensemble students will experiment with and learn melodies and rhythms from different traditions directly from KUNÉ members while also developing skills on their instrument. These sessions will culminate with students participating in 3 KUNÉ pieces at a community concert at CMST’s Regent Park location.
HEAL Community Listening Party
Join us in January for the Health Empowerment & Arts Leverage (HEAL) Community Listening Party! This special event celebrates the creative works of youth aged 14–29, highlighting original poetry and hip-hop tracks created through the HEAL program. Participants worked with trauma-informed facilitators and recorded their pieces at Phase One Studios, blending spoken word and music into powerful, moving art. Hosted at the same studio, the listening party welcomes families, youth, and community members to enjoy these inspiring creations. The event also kicks off registration for the next HEAL program, connecting community members to accessible arts and mental health opportunities.
Sistema Toronto Honours Program
Sistema Toronto’s honours program supports youth mental health using the transformative power of music to build community and establish a strong support system for young people as they navigate adolescence. This project supports Sistema Toronto’s honours program in Scarborough, enabling Sistema Toronto – Scarborough honours students to practice together each week while building community, leadership, and directly combating loneliness and disconnection. The project culminates in a performance at Sistema Toronto – Scarborough’s community concert in December, featuring selections from a suite for string orchestra from Aportia Chryptych: A Black Opera For Portia White.
