Community invited to reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Local celebrities will take centre stage on Sunday, December 13, 2009 for a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust. The presentation will take place in the Sheridan Auditorium at Sudbury Secondary School, 85 Mackenzie Street, at 7 pm.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and $20 for a family. Tickets are available at Sudbury Secondary School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lasalle Secondary School, Black Cat on Durham Street and Jett Landry Music on Lasalle Blvd.

The presentation will feature excerpts from A Christmas Carol read by CBC Morning North Host Markus Schwabe; Northern Ontario Business Publisher Patricia Mills; Greater Sudbury Police Chief Frank Elsner; Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux; and Rainbow District School Board Director of Education Jean Hanson.

In addition to the dramatic reading, the evening will showcase talented music students from several Rainbow Schools. Performers include the Sudbury Secondary School brass ensemble, the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School woodwind ensemble, the Lasalle Secondary School bluegrass duo, and the Lockerby Composite School jazz combo.

“We are delighted that these community leaders and students are offering their talents in support of this dramatic reading,” said Ralph McIntosh, Arts Education Co-ordinator for Rainbow District School Board and Chair of the Joan Mantle Music Trust. “We invite everyone in the community to share an evening with us as we reflect on the true meaning of the season – all in support of music education in Rainbow Schools.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust was established last fall to help refresh, modernize and revitalize secondary school music programs in the Rainbow District School Board. It is the goal of the Trust, with the generosity of the community, to replace, where necessary, musical instruments that have given such great pleasure beyond their serviceable life.

The Joan Mantle Music Trust allocates funds to secondary school music programs in Rainbow District School Board, one school at a time.  This ensures that there is a tangible improvement in the condition of equipment in an entire department, allowing students to achieve more in their musical studies together.

Joan Mantle dedicated many years to music education in Rainbow Schools. She passed away on June 9, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

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