Thank you, Mr. Chair, and also to the members of the committee, for allowing us to be here.
I'm the president of the Royal Conservatory of Music. It's an iconic Canadian cultural organization that I think many of you will know because either you or a friend or someone in your family took music lessons or examinations. We have about four million-plus alumni.
I want to inform the committee of the impact of COVID-19 on the Royal Conservatory but also on Canada's music education sector, and to make the case for government assistance to prevent what might be lasting damage to the essential infrastructure in our nation for music education.
The study of music is important, because it offers an avenue for our children not only to unlock their imaginations and to be introduced to the world of creativity and self-expression, but through the habit of deliberate practice daily, to develop the qualities of discipline, focus and concentration, which are essential to success in all fields.
The conservatory provides the educational systems and infrastructure for 30,000 independent teachers, who teach over half a million students in Canada and represent a billion-dollar sector. We are the engine that makes these developments possible. When you listen to music played by Canadians, chances are you are listening to an alumnus of the Royal Conservatory. Whether it's Glenn Gould or Oscar Peterson or Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Shaffer, Diana Krall, David Foster, Burton Cummings, etc., those are just a few of the people in the music industry from the conservatory.
The conservatory's capacity to provide extensive cultural opportunities at the grassroots level is supported by our work in other areas, whether it's online teaching or the Glenn Gould School, which provides our most gifted young people with an opportunity to receive training at an international standard. Koerner Hall is a national cultural asset. It's described by many of the world's greatest artists, including superstar pianist Lang Lang, as probably the finest concert hall in the world today. It is also a platform for many Canadian artists and international artists.
Ultimately it's the breadth of the impact of our programs on all Canadians in every community that is really important. Today, after decades of steep cuts to music and arts programs in public schools across Canada, the educational infrastructure created by the Royal Conservatory and its network of community-based teachers has never been more needed than it is today. However, the current crisis threatens to undermine this nationally important infrastructure.
Recently we surveyed 2,500 independent music teachers and found that, on average, half of their studio was gone and half of their income was gone. The median teacher now earns between $1,000 and $2,000 a month, which is below the cut-off for CERB, but certainly not a living wage. Many teachers rightly fear for their future.
The conservatory itself must generate 95% of its budget from earned revenues and contributions. Government support for us represents less than 5% of our budget. We face a cash operating shortfall of $5.3 million through to August 31. The shortfall is a result of total revenue loss of $9.2 million, which we have reduced through expense cuts of almost $4 million.
We have applied to the Canada emergency wage subsidy program. However, we project that we will still be short by $4.1 million of what we need to survive and to keep our core programs going.
Our board of directors has committed to funding half of this amount, in the hope that matching support from the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario will be in place. We're seeking an investment from the Government of Canada of $1.1 million to help us sustain our core programs through to August 31. We also urge the Government of Canada to consider a means to providing income support, through CERB, to the country's 30,000 independent music teachers. In the absence of some degree of income support, many will be forced out of music education. I think this would lower the quality of life dramatically in many communities and weaken one of the key pillars of cultural leadership in our nation.
Thank you very much for your time and attention.