Kate McGarrigle Fund To Help Cancer Patients Make Music

By Aaron Brophy

A grant program has been set up in name of late Canadian music legend Kate McGarrigle to help support cancer patients and cancer survivors pursue music-making.

The recently announced Music As Healing grant program will be administered through Stand Up To Cancer Canada's Kate McGarrigle Fund and will provide grants of $2,500 USD ($3,2980 CAD) each to up to 10 different creators who've been directly affected by cancer for the express purpose of making music.

Kate McGarrigle was one half of the renowned folk-singing sister duo Kate & Anna McGarrigle. She died in 2010 at age 63 from clear-cell sarcoma cancer. The McGarrigles are arguably one of Canada's foremost musical families. Kate is the mother to prominent musicians Martha and Rufus Wainwright and was married to US folk singer Loudon Wainwright III.

Martha Wainwright will serve as the music director for the Music As Healing program. Rufus Wainwright and musical director Rickey Minor will also be part of the selection committee. – Find out more online at Samaritanmag.