About Us
The Angela Dallaire Bruce Memorial Scholarship Association (ADBMSA) was born out of love for a wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, friend, and music teacher who was taken away too soon. In a time when many schools are cutting financing for music arts programs or eliminating them altogether, the ADBMSA is providing scholarships for students in underserved communities to attend summer music camps. Music provides a form of expression unlike any other and by providing the funding for these students to pursue their musical interests we are helping to build a bridge to their futures that they may not otherwise be provided.
History
Angela “Angie” Dallaire Bruce was a fierce lover of music and people, which made her an exceptional elementary and junior high music teacher for over 25 years. She lived her life in service to the children she taught, the community in which she lived, and the family that she raised. Angie loved music all her life. In fact, some of her earliest memories were of dancing in her grandmother’s living room as a toddler. She later joined her public-school choir and developed a passion for singing. Throughout her childhood she practiced many genres of music, but she grew especially fond of opera. Angie would sing for anyone who would listen. She sang for her family, at her church, in school plays, and eventually she studied music in college as well. Angie met her husband while studying opera in Phoenix, Arizona, and eventually they raised a musically inclined family in Western Michigan. She earned degrees in education from both Arizona State University and Central Michigan University. Being a music teacher allowed her to have the same schedule as her four daughters as well as the ability to share her love of music with her community. Her teaching style was innovative, inspiring, and memorable. Angie produced shows in which students simultaneously sang, danced, acted, and played instrument, often selecting individual students to participate in solos and other integral parts of the productions. These shows were no small feat given the enormous groups of young students and limited budgets. Angie spent most of her career teaching in inner city districts and she and her students were frequently invited to state music education conferences. She strongly believed in using a variety of music modalities, instruments, singing, and movements to guide at-risk students and their communities in positive directions.
What We Do
Upon Angie's death in February of 2018, her family, friends, and colleagues chose to continue her life's work by establishing a scholarship fund in her name to help inner city and underserved elementary and middle school music students to attend summer music camps. Students who are selected will receive scholarships to attend a music camp for any instrument, voice, dance, or theatre. The amount of the scholarship awarded will depend upon association funds and the cost of the camp. Links to the scholarship application, as well as links to activities and ways the community can contribute to the growth of the fund are listed on this site. The sole purpose of this Association is to raise funds for the scholarship and continue Angela's life work.