From the Province Newspaper via http://www.artsnews.ca/

Renovations at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre move a step closer to completion this week as the city approves $26 million in work to balconies, seats, dressing rooms, washrooms and the lobby. Soundproofing of the wall between the city-owned theatre and the Vancouver Playhouse is already complete. Technical and behind-the-scenes work on other areas won't be done until next year. The final set of upgrades, expected to be approved by council this week, will complete the theatre in time for it to serve as part of the 2010 Winter Olympics Arts Festival.

It's not only in Canada that we should be concerned by a lack of music in schools. In the UK there is real need for an official campaign to put music back in schools - and this in a country with a "singing" reputation, especially for cathedrals and college choirs. It's also true in Russia, once noted for fine choral singing. It's still there - but it's practitioners fear for the future....

http://education.guardian.co.uk/artinschools/story/0,,2191543,00.html