Braille Tone Music Society: Kids Menu Children’s Concert

The Cause

The Braille Tone Music Society (BTMS) is an inclusive artistic community which pursues engaging and rewarding musical experiences for all of its members, beyond any limiting factor. Our mission is to empower individuals of varying abilities to pursue professional instruction in music through our choirs and lesson subsidies, without significant cost to these individuals, and in an inclusive and fun atmosphere. The Braille Tones Choir is a professionally directed and accompanied choir for adults with disabilities that sings in four-part harmony with the help of section leaders drawn from community choirs in Edmonton. The Semitones Choir is an integrated and inclusive choir made up of children/youth with and without disabilities. This choir is also professionally directed and accompanied and relies on the help of volunteer section leaders.

On March 15, 2025, BTMS will present “Kids Menu 3.0”, our third annual children’s concert. Often the favorite concert of the season for the majority of our choristers, the Braille Tones and Semitones perform a selection of songs about food with the band Michelle & Friends. This band is made up of professional musicians who are well known in Edmonton’s music community: Michelle Rempel (vocalist), Keith Rempel (bassist/guitarist/arranger), and Matt Grier (drums). The concert program includes songs like “Teddy Bear Picnic,” “Don’t Get Peanut Butter in the Strawberry Jam,” and other classics. This year, we are excited to return to the Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton to host the concert in the Muttart Theatre (basement level). This location is ideal for families with young children (our target audience), serves as a community hub for various groups who regularly participate in library programming and services, and is extremely accessible via the LRT, bus, and DATS (Dedicated Accessible Transit Service). The library venue allows us to attract new audiences who might not otherwise know about our society and the musical programming we offer.

Who Will it Benefit?

The project will benefit two main groups: BTMS choir members and the Kids Menu concert audience.

We strive to create an inclusive and safe space for everyone, often reaching those who may be marginalized in an ableist world. Our focus is on the individual, and we are constantly seeking ways to engage and empower our members. Our concerts provide a goal and a special event for choristers to work towards and anticipate. Many of our choristers say that the Kids Menu concert is their favorite of the year, as it features fun music, props, and an enthusiastic audience. Last year, we booked the Muttart Theatre in the Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton for the concert, thanks to a Downtown Vibrancy grant from the City of Edmonton. For many choristers, it was their first time performing in a professional venue, and the anticipation and excitement were palpable. The Kids Menu concert also gives choristers the chance to sing with and learn from the band Michelle and Friends. We have a long-standing friendship with them, and professional bassist Keith Rempel, who is blind, provides an incredible example to our choristers of overcoming barriers in the musical profession despite visual impairment.

Our audience benefits in countless ways. Hosting the Kids Menu concert at the downtown library allows us to broaden our reach and introduce many new people to our organization. The library is a hub for various demographics, including families with young children, low-income families and individuals, people with disabilities, and unhoused individuals. We pride ourselves on keeping our programming and performances as accessible as possible, which means we do not charge for entry to our concerts. The Kids Menu concert is an opportunity to enjoy an afternoon of family-friendly, inclusive, and diverse music at no cost.

By funding this project, Field Law will enable BTMS to efficiently advertise and market the event through various media forms (print, digital, etc), hire a photographer, increase contract hours for staff to promote and organize the event, ensure that all additional accessibility needs for choristers/audience members are met, and allow us to continue this valuable programming without financial barriers for our members or our audience.