The concert at St. John’s Presbyterian Church on Saturday was more than just a recital.
Students of four music teachers came together to perform but also to fundraise, in a Community Outreach Recital.
The concert was a fundraiser for the Helping Hand Food Bank, and for ORMTA, the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, raising money for the local ORMTA Newmarket & Area Branch scholarship fund.
More than 30 young students participated in the event. They ranged from beginners to advanced students, playing everything from Pop Goes the Weasel and the theme music to Inspector Gadget, to Prelude in C minor by J.S. Bach, and Reverie by Claude Debussy, on the church’s magnificent baby grand piano.
There was even a bit of a Halloween theme to the music selected. Pieces included Faber’s Pumpkin Boogie, played by Ella Meyer; ‘Witches and Wizards’ by Christine Donkin, played by Elinka Fides, and Grieg’s eerie ‘In the Hall of the Mountain King,’ performed by Victoria McBeth.
Teachers Zuzana Gabor, founder of Piano Music Studio, Timea Agszerova-Powasa and Betty Taylor were on hand to encourage and guide the young performers. Piano teacher Sheila Vandikas was unable to attend, but sent several of her students.
“Thanks to the kids for practicing their pieces, and for their courage to come here in front of so many people they don’t know,” said Agszerova-Powasa at the end of the concert.
Each young performer was not only greeted with enthusiastic applause, but received a certificate of achievement, and a flower, as a thank-you for their musical and community efforts.
Congratulations to Ava Yu, Vittoria Fior, Ryan Klassen, Sophia Nogalo, Aram Farjami, Isabella Leppington, Nathan Kiriliuk, Bianca Giglio, Alexander Dziura, Samko Fides, Matthew McBeth, Kaedyn Ng Ngai, Niikita Kiriliuk, Ella Meyer, Kathy Ngo, Isabella Thalia Manalo, Matthew Kayaian, Daniel Lawton, Elinka Fides, Julia Fedrigoni, Evan Sit, Victoria McBeth, Michelle Wei, Joseph Jatou, Peter Bohdan, William Yin, Madeline Kokol and Sophie Yin.
