You and your band program can be part of the
Manitoba Wave of Light
Manitoba Wave of Light is a heartfelt fundraiser organized by the Manitoba Band Association in support of the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation to show the power music has to heal, bring people together, and make a difference in our community. This project offers a unique opportunity to unite communities across the province through the universal language of music, featuring an original composition by acclaimed composer Peter Meechan.
About the Music - Wave of Light
Meechan's specially crafted piece is designed to resonate with all who have been touched by cancer, providing a powerful way to express and share emotions. What makes this event even more special is that the piece has been created to be accessible and teachable for bands at all levels—from beginner to advanced. Bands of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate, making it an inclusive experience for musicians throughout Manitoba. Wave of Light will be composed as a flexible arrangement with multiple levels of parts, from easy to more challenging, and will include expanded instrumentation including non-traditional wind band instruments so that nearly any configuration of musicians can perform it, from piano accompaniment to wind band, to symphony orchestra and nearly anything in between. Additionally, voice parts will encourage collaboration with singers, choirs, and with your audience.
How it Works
Bands will be asked to register their event to take part in this meaningful initiative. Once registered, participating groups will receive the original music along with educational support materials to teach and learn at no cost. This allows musicians of all ages and nearly all experience levels to engage with new music, enhance their skills, and work together on a shared project. In turn, each group is asked to host a fundraising concert in May 2026, with proceeds benefiting CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. These concerts will provide an opportunity to celebrate the collective effort of bringing people together through music while raising vital funds for cancer care and research.
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation will make the fundraising aspect easy by providing easy-to-use-and-implement fundraising resources, including communications templates (letter, e-mail, social media), a custom URL and QR code, poster template, and more.
Why May 2026?
For schools across the province, a special focus is placed on uniting in song during the Provincially declared Music Month in May, 2026. This celebration of music will bring together students and musicians from all corners of Manitoba, connecting communities from the north to the south, the east to the west, as they perform Meechan’s piece. It’s a chance to create a province-wide movement of musical solidarity, supporting those affected by cancer and amplifying the healing power of music.
Why Participate?
Music has a unique ability to heal and uplift. It provides a channel for processing complex emotions such as grief, hope, joy, and sadness—emotions often intertwined in our experiences with cancer. Through melody and harmony, music can transcend words, offering solace and comfort to both those directly affected and their loved ones.
Our hope is that the Manitoba Wave of Light becomes a conduit for healing and connection. It fosters a supportive environment where individuals can come together, reflect, and find strength in community. By participating in this event, you not only support the vital work of CancerCare Manitoba Foundation but also contribute to a shared journey of healing and resilience through the power of music.
Join us as we come together through music, honoring our experiences, and creating a wave of light across Manitoba filled with hope for a brighter future. Together, through music, we can make a difference.
Sign-up to Receive More Information
About the Composer
The music of award-winning Canadian British composer Peter Meechan (b. 1980, Nuneaton, UK) is extensively performed throughout the world. His music has been commissioned, recorded, broadcast and performed by some of the world’s leading symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, brass bands, conductors and soloists, including: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass, The Dallas Winds, Bramwell Tovey, Jens Lindemann, Ryan Anthony, David Childs, Patrick Sheridan, Linda Merrick, and many more.
His work Perpetua won the 2021 Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest, and Meechan has also been a finalist in the National Band Association William D. Revelli Memorial Composition Contest (Waves Towards the Pebbled Shore).
In October 2020, Meechan was awarded the CBA (Canadian Band Association) ‘Canadian Composers’ Award’ – only the 9th recipient since the award’s inception in 1991, and in 2022 he was elected to the membership of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.
To read and learn more about Peter and his works, please visit his website.
About the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
All funds raised and donated remain in Manitoba. These funds support an internationally-recognized team of health professionals at CancerCare Manitoba who provide outstanding care for patients and their families.
The mission of CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, in partnership with their donors, is to support CancerCare’s strategic priorities. Your generosity enables the Foundation to maximize the funds provided to CancerCare Manitoba each year. Donor contributions help bridge the gap of initiatives and programs not eligible for government funding or where financial resources are not available, including prevention, early detection, clinical trials and leading-edge research and treatment. This support to CancerCare Manitoba profoundly impacts patient outcomes.
CancerCare Manitoba is our provincially-mandated agency for cancer and blood disorders. We share its bold vision, “A world free of cancer” and the goal that no life is cut short by cancer — a complex set of more than 200 diseases.
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation is the only charitable organization exclusively fundraising for CancerCare Manitoba.
If you have any questions, please contact the Manitoba Wave of Light collaborators:
Manitoba Band Association
Brent Johnson, Executive Director
204.663.1226
Peter Meechan, Composer
CancerCare Manitoba Foundation
Sherelle Kwan, Manager, Community Events & Development
204-784-2778