These B.C. students are trying to drum up $250K to save their music programs

For a trio of B.C. high school band students, the idea came to them, clear as a bell: if no one else would step in to save their school’s music programs — they would. 

When faced with a proposed $250,000 budget cut from their middle school music programs for the 2026-27 school year, students Mudita Shikhare, Jeff Zhang and Zak Kyriacou decided to launched a fundraising campaign.

“The point of the fundraiser is that we can take these matters into our own hands to at least keep music alive in middle schools for next year,” Zhang, a Grade 10 student at Mount Douglas Secondary in Victoria, told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. 

To address a $1.6-million deficit, the Greater Victoria School District’s budget proposal includes cuts to career guidance, counselling services — and middle-school music ensembles such as choir and jazz band.

In a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson for the board says “there are very few areas we are able to make reductions,” noting that music is not an area protected by collective agreements or contracts.

The proposed cuts  struck a chord for the students.

They say their music programs are more than just electives — they are lifelines that open doors for young people.

“It’s really a chance for kids to explore and expand their possibilities,” said Shikhare, a Grade 11 student who sings in the choir and plays clarinet and tenor sax in different ensembles. 

“By reducing the amount of possibilities they have, they won’t have enough exposure to all the music things they could join in secondary school.”

Kyriacou —a Grade 11 student who plays trombone, bass and violin — says joining the school band was transformative.

“I was always a very nervous person when I was younger,” he said.  “So I think being able to have these opportunities, especially to play on stages … it’s really helped me gain confidence in myself.”

Zhang, who attended a public budget meeting last week alongside Shikhare and Kyriacou, says he understands the difficult position trustees are in.

“We’ve talked to people working there and we believe that … they’ve been put in this position where they feel like they have to cut music because they’re underfunded at a provincial level.”

Sherri Bell, the district’s official trustee, says she read “every single piece of feedback” from the March 30 meeting where the budget was first presented. But ultimately, she says, the board’s hands were tied.

“It’s heartbreaking to think that we have to make any reductions to any program or department because this district has faced similar constraints year over year,” Bell said.

“No board of education wants to pass a budget that ultimately affects students and staff, but it’s the reality that we are facing with a structural deficit.”

The students are hoping their last-minute effort can make a difference.

Zhang says they’ve rallied support within their school community, knocked on the doors of local music stores, put up posters and even caught the attention of rock guitarist Brett Smith-Daniels, who shared the fundraiser on his social media. 

The students were hoping to hit their goal ahead of the Greater Victoria School District’s budget meeting on Wednesday.

However, as of Thursday, the campaign — called “Save Our Music SD61” and hosted on chuffed.org — has raised $31,000.

The students knew raising a quarter of a million dollars in a week is a high note to hit. But still, they say, it’s a start.

“There is a possibility that if we raise enough money, the district can find the funds to take from other places to fill the gap,” Zhang said.

Shikhare says their efforts could also have a long-term impact.

“With the amount of attention we’ve gained … I think we can certainly make a difference and somehow influence the school board to think about their budget decisions for next year,” she said.

No matter the outcome, the students say the experience has already taught them an important lesson.

“It’s taught us that we really shouldn’t give up on the things that we love,” Shikhare said. “It’s really taught us just to believe that we can still make change.”