Students and local bands electrify Eggplant at the Regent Park School of Music Fundraiser!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 30, 2006 -- Toronto, ON � June 30, 2006 � The Regent Park School of Music (RPSM) fundraiser hosted by Eggplant restaurant and sound design proved to be a huge success! Despite the downpour of rain on Wednesday night, the outpour of support was not at all dampened.

RPSM graduate Thompson T. Egbo tickled the ivories to set the mood, and performances by students on string, piano, and vocal brought the house to their feet. CTV eTalk�s Tanya Kim and Much Music�s Robin Black fired up the crowd for the rest of the evening�s festivities including thrilling performances by D�ari from Nine Mile, The Salads, and a truly scorching grand finale by Goodness Gracious fire dancers. In addition to amazing food and drink generously provided by Eggplant, guests enjoyed songs from Eggplant�s own Terry Tompkins and his wife Lisa, formerly of the music group Lost and Profound. Recording artist and entertainer Michee Mee, who grew up in the Regent Park neighbourhood, was among the influencers in attendance.

�Music has been integral to all of us at Eggplant, and we felt that throwing an event like this -- intended to raise awareness and funds for the RPSM in the Toronto community � was our way to give back and help children continue to discover music not only as a creative outlet in their lives, but hopefully as a passion,� said Eggplant�s co-owner Dave Conlon.

RPSM was started in the basement of St. Paul�s Church in the �hood. Within a year, it moved to the nearby heritage building @ 534 Queen Street East. The school offers Royal Conservatory training to less fortunate, inner-city youth through affordable after-school music programs by renowned and professional music faculty. The RPSM teaches over 200 children a week, one-on-one. The students use 10 instruments, and participate in group classes in voice and theory. It runs a 24-person choir, and students perform monthly concerts and an annual gala at the Canadian Opera Company. There are 14 instructors, all of whom work or study full-time elsewhere and teach at RPSM on the side, for about a third of the usual private lesson fee. With a vast student body and more than 250 students on the waiting list, RPSM is already making a significant impact on the community, but is still in definite need of funding to keep going. It takes about $1,500 per student each year to keep the school running.

RPSM is one of Toronto�s foremost independent, non-profit community music schools, and Eggplant hosted the RPSM fundraiser to assist the school in continuing to provide a safe and secure environment for inner-city youth to foster musical creativity. With the buzz generated from this phenomenal fundraising event, Eggplant and RPSM hope to get kids off the streets and into the music rooms.

About Eggplant: Founded in April, 2001, Eggplant � the company � is among the biggest commercial music companies and full service production house in Canada. They have served Emmy and Annie award-winning creative to television, advertising and gaming communities. Today, Eggplant�s music is heard in over 150 countries each day.
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