Lively District Secondary School hosts concerts for Joan Mantle Music Trust

Lively District Secondary School, one of this year’s recipients of new instruments from the Joan Mantle Music Trust, will host three Christmas Concerts on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 featuring performers from Lively District Secondary School, R. H. Murray Public School and Walden Public School.

A concert at 9:30 am for R.H. Murray students and Lively students in Grades 9 to 12 will feature Lively District Secondary School and R.H. Murray Public School performers.

A concert at 12:30 pm for Walden Public School students and Lively students in Grades 7 and 8 will feature Lively District Secondary School and Walden Public School performers.

A concert at 7 pm for the entire community will feature students from Lively District Secondary School.

Parents/guardians from all three schools and other community members are welcome to attend any of these concerts. There will be a silver collection at the door with all proceeds going to the Joan Mantle Music Trust.

“To date, $66,000 has been raised for the purchase of new instruments in Rainbow Schools, ranging from clarinets and saxophones to trombones, tubas, flutes and more,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Tyler Campbell. “The community’s ongoing generosity in support of music education will allow Rainbow students to reap the rewards for years to come.” He added: “We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported and continues to support the Joan Mantle Music Trust, enabling us to revitalize music programs in our schools.”

Leslie Mantle, Principal of Lively District Secondary School, said all three participating schools welcome the opportunity to showcase their talented students in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust. “Cory Ross, Christina Guillemette and Kyleen Gray as well as music teachers from our family of schools, Carrie-Anne Moxam from R.H. Murray Public School and Stacey Foy from Walden Public School, have come together to present three wonderful Christmas concerts,” she said. “We invite everyone to join us and share in the festive spirit.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust was established in the fall of 2008 to help refresh, modernize and revitalize school music programs in the Rainbow District School Board. “These concerts are our way of saying thanks to the community for its generous contributions to the Joan Mantle Music Trust and to raise money for the Trust so schools can continue to benefit from the purchase of new instruments for students in Rainbow Schools,” said Rainbow District School Board Arts Education Co-ordinator Ralph McIntosh. “It is also a wonderful opportunity for Rainbow Schools in our community to come together and share their music with one another.” He added: “We invite the community to make a donation to help support music education in Rainbow Schools.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust allocates funds to 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 for 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.

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. Connecting songs, language and movement encourages brain development. Musical activities improve self-esteem and confidence and promote 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.