Joan Mantle Music Trust presents Community Concert on April 26th

Local performers will join music students and teachers from Rainbow Schools to celebrate the Joan Mantle Music Trust during a gala Community Concert and Silent Auction on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

The concert will begin at 7 pm in the Sheridan Auditorium of Sudbury Secondary School. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Doors will open at 6:15 pm for the Silent Auction which will be held throughout the evening. All proceeds will support music education in Rainbow Schools.

“We have a wonderful line-up of entertainment that will appeal to young and old alike,” said Judi Straughan, the master of ceremonies for the event. “We invite everyone to come out for an evening of fun and festivities as we celebrate music in our schools and in our community. We also look forward to honouring Ralph McIntosh, this year’s recipient of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award.”

Tickets can be purchased by:
Accessing SchoolCash online at the following link: tinyurl.com/jmmtconcerttickets
Visiting the main office at Sudbury Secondary School, 154 College Street, open 8:30 am to 3 pm on regular school days.
Emailing [email protected] or calling 705-674-3171, ext. 7217.
A donation option is also available: tinyurl.com/jmmtconcertdonation

The Concert will feature guest artists Northern Memphis Revival as well as showcase the talent of students and staff in Rainbow Schools.

Northern Memphis Revival
Northern Memphis Revival have been sharing their love of soul music with Sudbury audiences since their formation in 2014. Northern Memphis Revival was formed to pay tribute to Stax Records which is the Memphis record label responsible for creating the sound of Southern Soul music in the 60s and 70s. They have since expanded to also include Southern Soul’s cousins and cover the greats such as Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Booker T and the MGs, Solomon Burke, Sam and Dave, Carla and Rufus Thomas and so many more.  The key ingredients for this soul band include the groove of a rhythm section, incredible singers with killer harmonies, and a funky horn section, making for the best dance party in town. Vocalists include Jennifer Holub, Nadia Costanzo and Anita Ansamaa. The rhythm section features Matt Foy (drums), Paul Loewenberg (keys), Chris (Pepper) Peplinski (bass), and Edouard Landry (guitar) with Mary-Ann Lebrun (sax), Benoit Clement (trumpet), and Melanie Grillanda (trombone).

Lo-Ellen Park Senior Concert Band
Directed by Mitchell McIntyre
The Lo-Ellen Park Senior Band is comprised of students in Grades 10 to 12. This ensemble rehearses on Mondays and Wednesdays during lunch for the duration of the school year. They perform at the school’s annual Winter and Spring concerts, local festivals, and international Heritage Festivals.

Algonquin Road Public School Junior Choir
Directed by Danika Hewlett
The Algonquin Road Public School Junior Choir consists of 57 students in Grades 4, 5 and 6. This year, they performed for the CTV Lions Children’s Christmas Telethon, The Sudbury Wolves, The Sudbury Five and in the Sudbury Music Festival. Last year, they received an honourable mention at the provincial level from the Ontario Music Festival Association.

Jazz Sudbury Youth Band
Directed by Brittany Goldsborough, Mitchell McIntyre and Peter Scherzinger
Founded in 2022, the Jazz Sudbury Youth Band is an ensemble of young musicians in secondary and post-secondary school from Sudbury and Espanola. Led by a team of some of Sudbury’s finest musicians and educators, the public will be able to catch them next at their spring concert with the Northern Jazz Octet on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at 7pm at Sudbury Secondary School.

Mustang Percussion Ensemble – MacLeod Public School
Directed by Jack Broumpton
The Mustang Percussion Ensemble includes students from Grades 5 to 8 and often plays music inspired by the hand drumming styles that originate in Africa and the Caribbean.

Valhalla Guitar Ensemble – Lockerby Composite School
Directed by Michael Jensen
The students in Lockerby’s Valhalla Guitar Ensemble have been studying guitar since February as part of their guitar class. This will be their second public performance, the first being at the Sudbury Music Festival on April 4, 2025.

North Star Choir – Sudbury Secondary School
Directed by Vanessa Chevrette
The North Star Choir is made up of Grade 9 to 12 vocal majors, all of whom have a love and passion for music and singing. The Choir performs in the community at Sudbury Wolves games, Sudbury Five games, retirement dinners, retirement homes and events showcasing Sudbury Secondary School’s Arts Education Program.

The Noise – Confederation Secondary School
Directed by Nick Beech
The Noise provides students with the opportunity to build confidence, express themselves, and perform music that rocks! Covering selections from the 1960s to the present, the musicians immerse themselves in the rock world of the past 60 years.

Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award
The Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award will be presented to Ralph McIntosh at the Community Concert. 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 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.
A long-time educator with Rainbow District School Board and champion for the arts in Sudbury, Ralph McIntosh has inspired generations of students to achieve their full potential, instilling in them important life skills, including teamwork, confidence, empathy and responsibility.

Ralph McIntosh began his teaching career at Churchill Public School in 1982. Four years later, he joined the growing staff of the Performing Arts Program at Sudbury Secondary School where he taught vocal music, musical theatre and piano. Launched in 1985, the Performing Arts Program was the first of its kind in Northern Ontario and only the third of its kind in the province.

Over the years, Ralph McIntosh played an integral role in the evolution of Performing Arts into the vibrant Arts Education Program that it is today. With access to modern studios and a state-of-the-art amphitheatre, students develop their talents in music, dance, drama, visual arts, photography, and media in a school that fosters arts, athletics and academics.

Ralph McIntosh produced numerous recordings with the Sudbury Secondary School ensembles and contributed to countless musical productions and festivals at the school, community and provincial levels. His vocal groups performed annually at the CTV Lions Club Telethon for many years, often with the opening act.

Ralph served as Arts Education Co-ordinator in Rainbow Schools from 2005 until his retirement in 2015. Through his leadership and collaboration with teachers, students explored dance, drama, music and the visual arts in the classroom and the community. Ralph shared his vision for the arts as an important component of a well-rounded education and an engaged citizenship.

An active member of the Ontario Music Educators Association during his teaching career, Ralph chaired the Northeastern Ontario Regional Arts Conference for many years. He welcomed touring artists from the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony into local schools, exposing students to artistic performances of a national caliber. Many of the theatre shows that he promoted delivered important messages about poverty, anti-bullying and mental health. For Ralph McIntosh, art is a powerful medium for building awareness and affecting change.

In 2008, Ralph was appointed the inaugural Chair of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee. To date, over $300,000 has been raised to purchase new instruments for students in Rainbow Schools. The Trust has also hosted community concerts to showcase student talent with community artists.

Ralph continues to be a powerful voice for the arts in his current role as the Education Director for YES Theatre, a position he assumed with the Sudbury Theatre Centre following his retirement. Ralph oversees theatre education programs, PA Day opportunities, and the March Break and Summer Theatre Camp programs. Ralph coordinates matinee performances for schools and provides materials to support teachers with links to the curriculum.  Ralph also supports the Young Company Program, assisting with auditions, performances and all aspects of production.

Ralph was a member of the Kiwanis Music Festival of Sudbury board for many years. Following the closure of the local Kiwanis Club chapter in 2021, he assumed the role of Chair for the new Sudbury Music Festival board. Since the fall of 2012, Ralph has served as the General Manager, Assistant Director and Accompanist with the Young Sudbury Singers. For many years, he was a member of Octatonic Decadence, an award winning a cappella group that performed locally and beyond to raise funds for different charities. Ralph is also active in the community as a church musician.

Ralph has received the following awards:
Sudbury Arts Council – Oryst Sawchuk Award – 2023
Rainbow District School Board – William N. Roman Teacher of the Year Award – 2000
Rainbow District School Board – Award for Excellence – 1993
On April 26, 2025, Ralph McIntosh will receive the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award in honour of his immense contribution to music education and community arts.

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, 674-3171, ext. 7217.