British Columbians to Compose Songs for Dairy Cows in New Online Challenge
AGASSIZ, BC, Oct. 9, 2012 /CNW/ - The BC Dairy Association invites British Columbians to try their hand at composing original music for a burgeoning new audience of aficionados: milk producing dairy cows.
The online initiative entitled Music Makes More Milk takes as its basic premise a common observation among dairy farmers that cows respond positively to music.
"Over time, BC dairy farmers get to know their cows well. They understand their behaviour, their moods, their likes and dislikes," says Dave Eto, Executive Director for the BC Dairy Association. "One thing they've come to learn is that happy cows produce more milk."
Music Makes More Milk contestants will use an online music composition tool to create original songs to play for the cows. The tunes of semi-finalist contestants - determined through a public voting system - will have their compositions played directly to cows on a BC dairy farm. Ultimately, it is the cows that will serve as the final judges of the contest, identifying an overall winner based on the highest milk production achieved while listening to the various contest entries. The winning contestant will receive a trip for four to the 55th Annual Grammy™ Awards in Los Angeles.
In order to prime the cows for the contest, an accomplished quartet of classically-trained musicians - led by Coast Symphony Orchestra conductor Edette Gagné - visited the Fraser Valley's Valedoorn Farm today and performed an "opening act" of Mozart numbers.
The six-week "Music Makes More Milk" contest launches to the public on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. Everyone is welcome to submit a tune at www.musicmakesmoremilk.com, but only British Columbians may enter the contest.
About the BC Dairy Association:
The BC Dairy Association (BCDA) is a not-for-profit organization that represents the B.C. dairy industry, by advancing the legitimate business interests of B.C.'s dairy farmers and by raising awareness of the dynamic, economically sustainable nature of the industry, which consistently supplies high-quality products to consumers. The BCDA implements innovative advertising, promotion and nutrition education programs and advocates for producers' concerns such as the environment, animal welfare, product safety, employee training, trade and regulatory matters.
About Valedoorn Farm:
Tom Hoogendoorn is one of hundreds of B.C. dairy farmers. Tom, together with his brother and their families, own Valedoorn Farm. They raise and care for about 300 dairy cows on the farm, located in B.C.'s Fraser Valley near Agassiz. Tom has been playing music - mostly country and classic rock - to his cows for many years.
About Edette Gagné:
Edette is music director and conductor of the Coast Symphony Orchestra, the associate conductor of the British Columbia Boys Choir, and the music director for the North Shore Light Opera Society. Edette holds a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Calgary, Bachelor degrees in arts and education from the University of Alberta, as well as Associate Performance Diplomas in piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Image with caption: "Coast Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Edette Gagné leads a quartet of classically-trained musicians in a warm-up performance for dairy cows at the Valedoorn Dairy Farm in Agassiz, B.C. The musicians are the "opening act" for the BC Dairy Association's "Music Makes More Milk" contest, launching October 10, in which members of the public are invited to compose songs for cows in order to naturally increase milk production. (CNW Group/BC Dairy Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121009_C5285_PHOTO_EN_19043.jpg
Image with caption: "Coast Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Edette Gagné leads a quartet of classically-trained musicians in a warm-up performance for dairy cows at the Valedoorn Dairy Farm in Agassiz, B.C. The musicians are the "opening act" for the BC Dairy Association's "Music Makes More Milk" contest, launching October 10, in which members of the public are invited to compose songs for cows in order to naturally increase milk production. (CNW Group/BC Dairy Association)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121009_C5285_PHOTO_EN_19044.jpg
SOURCE: BC Dairy Association
Marcus Wong
Director of Producer Relations & Communications
BC Dairy Association
604.294.3775 (Direct)
604.603.7872 (Mobile)
1.800.242.6455 (Toll-free in B.C.)
[email protected]
Share this article