Our Roots
Saint James Music Academy (SJMA) is a community-based after school program providing high quality classical music education to children living in and around Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Through our orchestras, choirs, music therapy programs, and so much more, students from grade 2 to grade 12 experience the joys and challenges of learning music together – and of playing an important part in something beautiful that is larger than themselves.
The story of SJMA began with one person determined to give children a better chance in life. When cuts to public school funding meant that Vancouver’s inner-city children had limited or no access to quality music education, long-time Downtown Eastside area resident Kathryn Walker decided to do something about it. She began a two-year process of building alliances and support in the community for a music academy that would not only teach music but use music as a means of reversing the negative social forces that neighbourhood children commonly face. SJMA opened its doors in September, 2007 with 45 enrollments and a budget of $37,000. Since then, the Academy has grown rapidly each year, touching the lives of many hundreds of children.
Founded during an economic recession, the story of the Saint James Music Academy is one of adaptability and resilience.
In the Spring of 2020, along with the rest of the world, SJMA was left reeling from our forced closure due to the COVID19 pandemic. With fortitude and cooperation, our teachers, parents, staff and supporters pulled together to keep our students connected to music, and bridging always towards a brighter future.
With the return of concerts and public events, we are overjoyed to be able to provide one of the most important aspects of music education to our students.
Some notable events throughout the years include:
2012 Music Therapy Program Added
2015 The fifth and final Sing it Forward Benefit Concert draws almost 1,000 attendees.
2018 SJMA featured at the 2018 Juno Awards.
2019 The SJMA Orchestra performed at the Orpheum Theatre by invitation of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s School of Music
2019 Performance with Fred Penner at the Commodore Ballroom by invitation of our music therapy program supporters Music Heals Charitable.
2023 Return of our annual Fluevog Shoes Benefit Concert
2023 Jill Barber visited and rehearsed with SJMA students
2023 Joint performance with the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir
At its heart, SJMA remains the grassroots community organization of our founding fourteen years ago. Through the success of many people coming together: teachers and volunteers, parents and staff, and a wide network of donors and friends, the children continue to grow and learn, transforming our own hearts in the process.