An Instrument for Every Child

The Shawn & Ed Brewing Company in Dundas was hopping Thursday night as the Hamilton Music Collective held its annual fundraising gala to support its program, An Instrument for Every Child. AIFEC provides access to musical instruments and musical instruction for more than 450 inner-city elementary schoolchildren. The gala featured performances by Darcy Hepner’s R&B All-Stars, Mary McKay and Genevieve Marentette and featured Grammy Awardwinning singer David Clayton-Thomas, best known as the lead singer of Blood, Sweat & Tears. The event raised $25,000 for AIFEC.

Above left: Mary McKay, left, performs accompanied by backup singers Alyssa Giammaria, Aoife-Louse Doyle and Leah Korkowski. Above: Aisha Barrow and Vasya Mykyteiek enjoy the music.

Left: Darcy Hepner’s R&B All-Stars perform at the AIFEC fundraiser Thursday.

Left: Genevieve Marentette sings with David Clayton-Thomas.

Top: Drummer Rick Gratton manages to wave for the photographer and not miss a beat.

Above: Astrid Hepner, AIFEC program director/instructor, opens the show.