A mass ensemble of students from across the Lower Mainland will be performing at Robson Square this morning as part of Music Monday.

The 11th annual celebration of music education in schools will be led this year by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra maestro Bramwell Tovey.

“It’s a time for people to come together and recognize the importance and the value of music education and the teachers that work so hard at bringing that to our students in the schools,” said Christin Reardon MacLellan, President of the Coalition for Music Education in B.C.

The public concert will include more than 200 elementary and secondary students from Vancouver, Burnaby, and Coquitlam. The event will be hosted by choral conductor Morna Edmundson.

The Music Monday celebration was launched in 2005 by national organization The Coalition for Music Education to raise awareness of music education.

McLellan noted the B.C. coalition has been advocating for a province-wide music education policy for students.

“That’s something that we really need to see happening,” she said. “If you look at Manitoba, for example, they mandate that every student receive a music education in elementary school by a music specialist teacher.”

The Music Monday performance will take place from 10 a.m. to about 12 p.m. today (May 4) at 800 Robson Street.