Music is a huge part of Olivia Winn’s elementary school life.

The Emma King Elementary School Grade 8 student said she has enjoyed her elementary school music experience so much, she wants to continue to develop her talents after she graduates.

“I’ve been in choir for quite a few years, so having that chance to do it in elementary school really gives me the confidence to carry on with it in high school,” she said.

Winn was one of the Emma King students who sang their hearts out as part of Music Monday, on May 5.

Music Monday aims to show the importance of art education in schools and is presented by the Coalition for Music Education in Canada annually on the first Monday in May.

Emma King students belted out tunes in front of a number of special guests, including Education Minister Kathleen Wynne, Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll, Ingrid Whyte, executive director of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada and Simcoe County District School Board chairperson Mary Anne Wilson.

Wynne said she was impressed with the Emma King student’s performances.

“There is nothing more wonderful than listening to kids sing,” she said. “It is one of the most beautiful things a person can do so having all those kids singing together is just magic.”

Whyte said Music Monday helps create a community through music and lets student’s voices be heard.

“We want people at every level of government and administration, who are making the important decisions about the education of our children, to hear our beautiful voices today,” she said. “And we want them to make the decisions that will restore music and the arts.”

Music education has recently been a hot topic of discussion at the SCDSB, where trustees are looking to improve the arts in all their schools, but especially at the elementary level.

Wynne said the government is working to help better deliver arts programs in all the provinces schools.

“Schools want to deliver music to their kids,” she said. “What we have been doing since we came into office is we have been putting more teachers so there is more support for music.”

The Ontario government has provided funding for 2,600 specialist elementary teachers for art, music and physical education.

The government has also provided money directly to boards to allow them to deliver arts programs.

The SCDSB received $856,000 while the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board received $382,500 specifically for arts programs.

The Music Monday event was started in 2005.

More than 700 schools in Ontario, and more than 500,000 students across Canada, took part in this year’s event.