Joan Mantle Music Trust in tune in twelve as donations continue to grow

The Joan Mantle Music Trust remains in fine tune in year twelve as donations continue to grow. Since its launch in 2008, the Trust has raised $258,000, an impressive contribution to music education in Rainbow Schools.

“As we move into the second year of the fourth round of funding, secondary schools as well as elementary feeder schools with music programs will once again receive funds,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar.

She added: “The fact that the Trust is thriving 12 years after its inception speaks volumes about the generosity of local businesses and individuals. The entire community deserves a standing ovation for its ongoing support.”

The Trust was expanded to elementary schools in 2018-2019 when Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Algonquin Road Public School and R.L. Beattie Public School; Confederation Secondary School, Valley View Public School and C.R. Judd Public School; and Manitoulin Secondary School, Central Manitoulin Public School and Charles C. McLean Public School received funds to purchase new instruments.

Lasalle Secondary School, Churchill Public School, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, and Northeastern Elementary School; Lockerby Composite School, Alexander Public School, Copper Cliff Public School, and MacLeod Public School; and Sudbury Secondary School and Princess Anne Public School will receive funds in 2019-2020.

The third round of funding culminated in 2017-2018 with Confederation Secondary School, Espanola High School and Sudbury Secondary School. Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Lasalle Secondary School and Lively District Secondary School received funding in 2016-2017. In 2015-2016, funding was provided to Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School.

“Most of our secondary schools have enjoyed four rounds of funding from the Joan Mantle Music Trust,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg. “Our students will reap the rewards for years to come as we continue to replenish the inventory of instruments in our schools.”

He added: “We are so grateful to members of the community who support the trust by making donations and attending events, including school concerts and the International Dinner and Silent Auction. We are in tune in twelve and have never sounded better!”

“As great as listening to music is, it’s even better to be able to make music myself,” said Hannah Smith, a Grade 8 student at Copper Cliff Public School. “Playing the flute calms me down and helps me to express my emotions.” She added: “New instruments would mean that kids in our school could learn to play instruments and experience the joy of making music like I have for many more years.”

“When I first auditioned for the music program, I had never even touched a band instrument before,” said Jack Cushnie, Grade 12 student at Sudbury Secondary School. “Fast forward four years to today and I play tenor in two bands at school, the Cambrian wind ensemble and a saxophone quintet. And I am lucky to play on a sax that was bought with money from this fund. It has given me the opportunity to experience making and playing music and fall in love with it.”

The money raised to date comes from individual donations, corporate contributions and special events, including $11,000 from the International Dinner and Silent Auction held last spring. Members of the community have also donated a variety of musical instruments including woodwind and brass instruments, guitars, drum sets and pianos.

To thank the community for its contributions, the 2019-2020 recipient secondary schools will host community concerts with their area elementary schools that have music programs. These concerts will appeal to music lovers of all ages.

International Dinner and Community Award

The ninth International Dinner and Silent Auction in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 6 pm at the ParkSide Centre in Sudbury.

“Through the International Dinners, we have raised $91,000 in support of music education in Rainbow Schools,” said Bela Ravi, a community representative on the Trust’s Steering Committee.

She added: “We invite everyone to mark their calendars and join us for another wonderful evening with foods from around the world, and musical entertainment from the talented students of Rainbow Schools.”

The seventh annual Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award will be presented at the International Dinner. The Community Award commemorates Joan Mantle’s positive impact on music and music education, not only within the Rainbow District School Board, but throughout the broader community.

The Award is presented annually to an individual (or organization) from the community served by Rainbow District School Board who has had a significant impact on music and/or music education at the elementary, secondary, post-secondary and/or community levels. Nominations will be accepted until January 17, 2020. For more information, including the nomination form, visit rainbowschools.ca and click on “Community”.

Community Award Honour Roll

Inaugural recipient Sylvia Carscadden, founder and director of the Kampana Bells, said that music teachers don’t always realize the tremendous impact they have on a person’s life. “I want to reinforce to teachers the great influence they have on their students,” she said. “Music teachers provided experiences and opportunities that formed my appreciation of quality and the discipline of excellence. But most importantly, they made an extra effort to share what they loved. It has had a lasting impact on my life and I am truly honoured to receive this wonderful award.”

The late Peter Schneider, a long-time educator and musical performer, was honoured with the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award in 2015. In accepting the posthumous tribute, Peter’s widow Lucette Schneider said music is a gift that lasts a lifetime. “Recent research has found that music uses both sides of the brain, a fact that makes it valuable in all areas of development. Music affects the growth of a child’s brain academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually,” she said. “Most people can’t play soccer or football at 70 and 80 years of age but they can sing. And they can play piano or some other instrument.”

Dr. David Buley, an Associate Professor of Music Education at Laurentian University, received the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award in 2016. Dr. Buley established The Young Sudbury Singers in 2007, an award-winning choir for children and youth from across the Greater Sudbury area. “The making of music is never solitary: instrument makers, composers, ensemble performers, audience members, architects, and concert hall builders, our teachers, our supporters, all combine to make the spaces and places and opportunities where music is made, where we experience musicing,” said Dr. Buley. “Offering an award such as this supports all of this musicing community.”

Dr. Robert “Bob” Hall was the 2017 recipient of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award. Dr. Hall is an accomplished musician, vocalist, pianist, organist and conductor, who has served 22 years as Associate Professor of Music at Laurentian University, and Director of Music and Organist at St. Andrew’s United Church, Sudbury. At last year’s Dinner, Dr. Hall shared a booklet about the many music educators he has worked with and the key things they have taught him. “There are many more people that I could have named who shared musical insights by word or by example,” he said. “It makes me very thankful that I have had the privilege to experience so many inspirational music educators in so many ways over the past years.”

Brenda and Jamie Arrowsmith, a mother/son duo who are well known musicians and music educators, received the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award in 2018. Brenda Arrowsmith imparted her passion for music to her son Jamie and both have made significant contributions to music education. Jamie, in turn, is inspiring another generation of musicians through his work at Cambrian College, the Sudbury Symphony and the Sudbury Youth Orchestra. “As a music educator, I am grateful for the Trust’s role in helping to ensure quality music instruction in our schools,” said Dr. Jamie Arrowsmith.

Added Brenda Arrowsmith: “I remember in my own teenage years what a big deal it was to have even a few new instruments… no dents, no broken springs, no missing key pads, no sticky valves or bent speaker keys, shiny clean lacquer… so much easier to play. It was positively motivating and fun! Thanks to the Joan Mantle Trust, that excitement is still being experienced by music students, and many music teachers are grateful to have good, working instruments. I am also willing to bet that many of us perhaps went in to music as a career in the first place because of a strong formative experience in high school music programs, or in youth orchestras, or because of a passionate, talented teacher… a Joan Mantle.”

The 2019 Community Award was presented to Heather Parker, Co-ordinator of the Kiwanis Music Festival of Sudbury, who sang the praises of music and music education. “Music is a gift that keeps on giving,” she said. “It’s a universal language that can break down barriers and heal deep wounds. It can quietly stir the delicate corners of your soul and has the power to energize masses of people in joyful celebration.” She added: “The effects and benefits of music are endless, and music has simply felt like my purpose. I am forever grateful for it.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust

The Joan Mantle Music Trust honours Joan Mantle, a long-time educator who made an immense contribution to music education locally. Joan Mantle passed away on June 9, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

“It is so heartwarming for the entire family to see our mother’s love of music live on in the young people who are enjoying these new instruments,” said Leslie Mantle. “We are truly grateful to all community donors who continue to make this rich legacy possible. We also appreciate the donation of instruments from those who share our love of music.”

She added: “There is nothing more encouraging to a student who is just learning about the joy that music can bring than to pick up a beautiful shiny new instrument. My mother loved music – whether it was playing music herself, conducting the many bands that she led, or listening to others play, she loved music. That is what we are hoping for you – to build a love and appreciation for music. Embrace it and enjoy it and music will stay in your hearts forever.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust allocates funds to school music programs in Rainbow District School Board on a rotating basis. The Trust also accepts the donation of new and used musical instruments and allocates them to schools in need. This ensures that there is an ongoing improvement in the condition of musical equipment throughout the Board, allowing for students to achieve more in their musical studies together.

About Joan Mantle, patron of the Joan Mantle Music Trust

Joan Mantle dedicated many years to music education in Rainbow Schools.

Joan was hired by the Sudbury Board of Education in 1964 to teach math and science at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School. Due to her extensive background in music, she was invited by the principal to establish a music program at the school. She gladly accepted and planted the seeds for what continues to be a hallmark of education at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.

Two years later, Lasalle Secondary School recruited Joan to head the Music department. The Lasalle Secondary School bands garnered numerous awards under her leadership over the following 15 years.

Joan was then promoted to administration, where she served as Vice-Principal at Lasalle, Principal at Lo-Ellen Park and Principal at Sudbury Secondary School. In all of these schools, Joan was a tireless ambassador for music education.

During much of this time, Joan was the Director of the Ontario Music Leadership Program, Director and Chair of the Ontario Secondary School Principals’ Association, and played a key role in the formation of the Ontario Principals’ Council.

Joan spent the last six years of her career as Superintendent of Education for the Rainbow District School Board. After retiring in 2003, Joan continued to serve our community on many boards. In 2007, she was Chair of the Board of Governors at Cambrian College.

During the launch of the Trust in the fall of 2008, Joan Mantle picked up the baton and directed the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School Senior Jazz Band to the delight of those in attendance.

“Music education benefits students in many ways,” she said at the time. “Music is a universal language that enriches the mind and nourishes the spirit. When students gain an appreciation of music and learn practical skills, they discover a source of enjoyment and personal satisfaction that will last a lifetime.”

About Music Education in Rainbow Schools

The Rainbow District School Board provides students with opportunities to increase their musical literacy and develop their creative and critical thinking skills by engaging them in activities that lead them to learn in, about and through music. Musical literacy is the ability to read, write, create and perform music, as well as analyze, interpret and appreciate music from a variety of cultures and historical periods.

Learning in, about and through music is part of a well-rounded education that reinforces academic skills and nurtures life skills. Learning songs and rhythms develops literacy skills. Making connections between songs, language and movement encourages creativity and critical thinking. Music also improves self-esteem and confidence, and promotes teamwork and an overall appreciation of the arts.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.