Spring concert raises over $900 for new piano

Twillingate - A total of over $900 was realized at Twillingate Island Elementary on May 27 when supporters crowded into the auditorium for the annual Spring Concert.

This year, however, the concert had a special added purpose. Not only did the concert showcase the talents at the school and the results of an excellent music program, but it was to raise funds to help pay for one of two pianos the school recently purchased.

David Dove, principal at TIE, explained to the audience at the outset that two pianos the school has had for a number of years were no longer in good condition and it was felt that the program and expertise provided by the music teacher Eleanor Cameron-Stockley deserved much better.

"We owe her that much for the fantastic success that she has achieved with our students over the years," said Mr. Dove.

He explained that the school board had purchased one piano and various donations - including $2,000 from the Twillingate Lions and an anonymous gift of $1,500 - had all but completed payment on the second instrument.

"This concert in addition to showcasing the talents of our students and the training they have received will also showcase one of those new pianos, a Yamaha, (the other will be located in the music room) as well as raise additional funding to help pay the cost," he said.

And the concert accomplished all of the goals. The performances were extraordinary making the concert one of the best. The honour choir presented several selections and as usual showed the reason why they were selected as the Best Overall Choral Performance in the spring Gander Kiwanis Music Festival. In addition, the primary choir sang and presented a selection with ukuleles. In similar style, the Grade 6 students added to the variety with selections on their recorders.

Meanwhile solo performances by Emma Luscombe in a tap dancing demonstration and seven-year-old Nicholas Gates, dressed in black and presenting his version of Johnny Cash in I Walk the Line, were highly appreciated by the audience. A skit performed by four young students was also well received.