New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On October 23, The
Music Heals Charitable Foundation, along with partner, LG 104.3, will bring together community leaders, music enthusiasts and some of Canada's foremost musical talent for the
Strike A Chord Benefit Gala. Hosted by Prevail of Canadian hip-hop icons, Swollen Members,
Strike A Chord will feature showcase performances by The Matinee, Kutapira, Chin Injeti, Omar Khan, The Boom Booms, DJ's Sincerely Hana and Rico Uno, and a special guest appearance by Serena Ryder.
Designed to celebrate the healing power of music, while highlighting some of the locally driven initiatives implemented by
Music Heals, the evening is certain to be an unforgettable night of outstanding performances and collective respect for our universal language -music.
"Music has and will forever be a powerful, visceral element that impacts our lives on many levels," says
Music Heals Executive Director, Chris Brandt. "The field of music therapy uses evidence-based practices to actually heal a person on physical, emotional and even spiritual levels."
Among the musicians slated to appear at this year's Gala, is producer and Grammy Award Winner, Chin Injeti. Chin has worked alongside hip hop heavyweights, Eminem,
Drake and
Dr. Dre to name a few. However, his current career achievements would not have been possible without his past experience of beating polio as a child. A dedicated music therapist played a huge part in his successful battle, aiding him to regain strength in his legs and learn to walk. Today, Chin is a
Music Heals advocate, helping other children in need gain exposure to the healing benefits of music.
"Music was my first escape from reality," recalls Injeti. "I was at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, in the isolation ward with all these tubes in me, and I remember the house cleaner came into my room and she was vacuuming. I can remember the vacuum sound, closed my eyes and I was harmonizing with it, even though you don't know you're harmonizing. It kind of felt really peaceful." Using music as an escape and a drive to grow stronger each day, Chin defined the odds and pursued his passion. The rest is history.
Among its many initiatives,
Music Heals efforts' include:
• Increasing access to music therapy for patients in children's hospitals, senior's centres, palliative care, AID & HIV programs, at-risk-youth centers, rehabilitation programs, burn units, bereavement support, and more.
• The introduction of the first ever "iPod Pharmacy," a recycling program that pairs gently used iPods with new headphones donated by Skullcandy, and puts them into the hands of music therapists, and has since been recognized and approved by Apple Inc.
• The production of "A Night Out For
Music Heals," in which bars and clubs across the country donate $1 from every cover charge to
Music Heals on the first Saturday in March.
Proceeds from
Strike A Chord will increase access to local music therapy programs. Tickets for
Strike A Chord: A Benefit For
Music Heals can be purchased at www.MusicHeals.ca/Gala
About
Music Heals
The
Music Heals Charitable Foundation raises awareness of the healing powers of music and fundraises for music therapy and related services across Canada. Its mission is to unite music therapy-related charitable initiatives, and increase patient accessibility to music therapy in children's hospitals, seniors' homes, palliative care facilities, burn units, bereavement support, at-risk youth programs and more. In 2013, its first full year in operation,
Music Heals donated $100,000 to music therapy programs in Canada. For more information visit, contact Chris Brandt
[email protected] 
