HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-08-057 - Travel Assistance Grant Request - Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Community Services Committee
May 26, 2008
Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services
Renate Willms, Supervisor of Administration (ext. 2395)
All
May 20,2008
CSD-08-057
TRAVEL ASSISTANCE GRANT REQUEST - GRAND
PHILHARMONIC YOUTH CHOIR
RECOMMENDATION:
That a travel assistance grant not be approved for the Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir
to attend the 28th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education in
Bologna, Italy, from July 18 to 28, 2008.
REPORT:
The Community Services Department has received a travel assistance grant application from
the Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir to attend the 28th World Conference of the International
Society for Music Education in Bologna, Italy, from July 18 to 28, 2008. The request was for
$200 for each choir member residing in Kitchener.
Staff denied the grant request since the City's travel grants are intended only for minor sports
groups. The Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir is appealing the staff decision.
The Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir was founded in 1993. Its mission is "to promote choral
education, to develop young voices and to challenge young people to perform at the highest
possible standard".
The group, consisting of 50 singers between the ages of 14 and 23, has recently received an
invitation to perform at the conference in Bologna. The cost to attend this event is $3,000 per
participant. Most of the participants require financial assistance in order to attend the
conference and therefore the organization is requesting a grant from the City of Kitchener. The
Choir has also approached other area municipalities and organizations for sponsorship. Further
details are provided in the grant application which is attached for reference.
Report No. CSD-08-057
Page 2
The City's travel assistance grants are intended for individuals or groups involved in minor
sports in the City of Kitchener who have qualified to compete in provincial, national or
international championships. Staff recommends that a grant not be approved since the Grand
Philharmonic Youth Choir is not a "minor sport" organization and therefore the request does not
meet the grant criteria.
Should Council wish to consider providing a grant, staff suggests that an amount of $1 ,000 be
approved ($175 per competitor, to a maximum of $1 ,000 per team), as would be approved for
minor sports groups under the "Travel Assistance Grants - Minor Sports" policy. There are eight
(8) members in the Grand Philharmonic Youth Choir who are residents of Kitchener and age 18
or under.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The grant applicant has received a copy of this report.
Renate Willms
Supervisor of Administration
AU.