It’s 4 p.m. on a Tuesday and the quiet rooms at the Regent Park School of Music, located in a small house near Toronto’s oldest public-housing development, start to fill with the sounds of pianos, violins, cellos, clarinets and other orchestral instruments. Brian Bowes, an advisor with Toronto-based Raymond James Ltd. and a volunteer with the music school for low-income kids, stands in the hallway as more students trickle in. Unlike many grade-school kids just released from class, these students are quiet but focused, clearly intent on getting down to the business at hand.

As treasurer of both the school and the Regent Park Foundation, the associated registered charity that provides long-term financial support to the school through donations, Bowes helps keep the music program in the black. And while he’s not directly involved in teaching, he also helps out with the school’s day-to-day operations.

“I’ve always had a passion for the arts, and I think music is important to have in your life, especially for kids,” says Bowes. “Music is something that can change people, and it’s why I chose this type of organization to work with. This is a place that really does capture you. When I look at these kids I’m extremely proud of what they have accomplished.”

Indeed, the school’s students are gaining something of a reputation for hitting the big time at tender ages. In September 2010, the school’s choir was invited by Roger Waters, of Pink Floyd fame, to sing the chorus for “Another Brick in the Wall” at Waters’ concert, which was held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The Regent Park school’s building is modest, consisting of an aging, three-storey, semi-detached house that has been converted into a teaching space for more than 300 children. The school aims to provide high-quality, affordable music education to underprivileged youth who otherwise would not have access to it.

By most measures, the school has been a remarkable success. Established in 1998 by Toronto lawyer Judith Hinchman, with the support of neighbourhood pastor Father Tom Day, the program now includes a separate foundation that provides bursa-ries and scholarships, as well as a satellite program in Toronto’s low-income Jane & Finch neighbourhood. Last month, the school also launched another branch in the Parkdale community, a low-income area west of the city’s downtown where many immigrants begin their lives in Canada.@page_break@Says Bowes: “I remember when I first got involved, I thought that it would be nice to do something downtown and help these kids who are just scratching on the violin. But they are actually really impressive to watch and see grow. I’ve come to see that it’s not just about having access to music; it’s a place where these kids are learning and being mentored.”

The school becomes like a second home to some of the children, says Bowes. For many students, the skills they learn at Regent Park are being translated into how they approach homework assignments or gain respect for their daytime teachers.

“If you are mastering an instrument, it teaches you how to get better at something,” says Bowes. “And you commit to it and, in the end, you do see the results. The kids take those skills and transfer them to their English or math work and start to put forth the same effort they do with their music class.”

The school offers one-on-one classes, as well as group music lessons and a choir component. There is also a class that introduces music to two- and three-year-olds. The school’s curriculum is similar to that of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and many Regent Park students later progress through RCM examinations.

The Regent Park school also seems to have a ripple effect, Bowes says: “We have seen students who end up getting a scholarship to university and are given opportunities that they otherwise might not have been given. It is truly remarkable to see how dedicated these kids can be.”

As the music program’s volunteer financial expert, Bowes uses his business skills to help keep the program on track. Says Richard Marsella, director of the music school: “Volunteers are crucial to the school, and a volunteer like Brian, who is not only passionate about what we do here but also brings his professional skills to the table, are ones that are extremely hard to find. We wouldn’t get by a year without someone that is able to provide that for us.”

Bowes visits the school once a week and spends about an hour a day outside of the school on administrative tasks. For him, the school isn’t just about sitting on a board or donating a monetary amount: “It is a very hands on commitment.”

The majority of the clients in Bowes’ practice are in the arts and entertainment industry, and many of them take a keen interest in the school, including making regular donations. “I have clients who love to come out to the events,” he says, “as well as contribute to the school. They know exactly where their money is going — directly to the children.” IE