TranslateWhat’s happening in Rainbow Schools?
Take Five: Joan Mantle Music Trust celebrates its fifth anniversary
Manitoulin Secondary School received new instruments from the Joan Mantle Music Trust last year. The Trust is benefiting students, including, from left, Jordan Moore, Tristan Golder, Zoe Murphy, Bradly Sayyae, Emily Hnatyshen and Jessica Jordison.
Thanks to the community’s generosity, Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Lasalle Secondary School and Sudbury Secondary School will receive new instruments from the Joan Mantle Music Trust in the 2013-2014 school year. Barrydowne College, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School benefited from the Trust in the 2012-2013 school year. Front row, from left, Bela Ravi, community representative on the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee; Doreen Dewar, Chair of Rainbow District School Board; Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board; Chief Frank Elsner of the Greater Sudbury Police Service; Bob Deeth, Principal of Sudbury Secondary School; Matthew Gould, Artistic Director for Guitars Alive; and Leslie Mantle, representing the Mantle Family; middle row, from left, Emma Portier from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School; Marc Taillefer, music teacher at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School; Stacy Smith from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School; Rick Tompkins, Director of Programming for Newcap Radio (Rewind 103.9 FM and Hot 93.5 FM), Matt Sampaio and Sherri K, hosts of the Morning Hot Tub with Matt and Sherri; Carolyn Otto, music teacher at Sudbury Secondary School; Cindy Coleman and Nathan Gamble from Sudbury Secondary School; Alyson Beland and Liam Keaney from Lasalle Secondary School; Back row, from left, Ralph McIntosh, Rainbow District School Board Arts Education Co-ordinator and Chair of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee; Daniel Landriault from Chelmsford Valley District Composite School; Stephanie Tagliabracci, music teacher at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School; Nathan Stewart and Amanda Hansen from Barrydowne College; Greg Miller, music teacher at Barrydowne College; Kassandra Kennedy from Lockerby Composite School; Mike Jensen, music teacher at Lockerby Composite School; Cole Szanto from Lockerby Composite School; and Marc Savard, music teacher at Lasalle Secondary School.
Rainbow District School Board’s secondary schools continue to benefit from the Joan Mantle Music Trust, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. Chelmsford Valley District Composite School, Lasalle Secondary School and Sudbury Secondary School will receive new instruments in the 2013-2014 school year.
“All of our secondary schools have been allocated funds from the Trust since its inception in 2008,” said Rainbow District School Board Chair Doreen Dewar. “We are now in year two of the second round of funding, thanks to the ongoing support of the community. What a tremendous contribution to music education and the students in Rainbow Schools.”
Barrydowne College, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School received funding in the 2012-2013 school year. Confederation Secondary School, Espanola High School and Lively District Secondary School will receive funding in the 2014-2015 school year. This will complete the second three-year funding cycle.
“There is an ongoing need to revitalize music programs in our schools so we certainly appreciate the continued support,” 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 secondary schools. We thank all donors.”
To date, just over $120,000 has been raised for the Joan Mantle Music Trust, through individual donations, corporate contributions and special events. This includes $3,500 raised through a direct appeal campaign last spring. Members of the community have also donated musical instruments including several woodwind and brass instruments, a guitar, a drum set, cymbals and five pianos.
A significant supporter of the Joan Mantle Music Trust has been Newcap Radio, owners of Rewind 103.9 FM and Hot 93.5 in Sudbury. Newcap is donating $7,523 to the Joan Mantle Music Trust this year – their fifth donation as part of a multi-year commitment through their Canadian Content Development initiative.
“At Newcap Radio, we believe in giving back to the community,” said Director of Programming Rick Tompkins. “We also recognize the importance of music education. We welcome this opportunity to help nurture our next generation of musicians and look forward to supporting the trust in the years ahead.”
The Joan Mantle Music Trust has also received support from the Greater Sudbury Police Service Chief’s Youth Initiative Fund and Guitars Alive.
“The Greater Sudbury Police Service is committed to improving the lives of youth in our community,” said Chief Frank Elsner. “Music education opens doors for young people and enhances quality of life. An investment in the Joan Mantle Music Trust is an investment in our community.”
“We believe every child in Sudbury needs to have the opportunity to experience the joy of music,” said Dr. Matthew Gould, the Artistic Director for Guitars Alive. “We are delighted to support the Joan Mantle Music Trust.”
Upcoming Events in Support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust:
The Jazzworkz Concert Series will continue this year. The first concert will feature Lasalle Secondary School graduate Christian Overton on trombone. The concert will take place on Friday, October 25, 2013 at 7 pm at St. Peter’s United Church.
Guitars Alive will present the G8 Guitar Summit on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 7 pm in the new Sheridan Auditorium at Sudbury Secondary School. The concert will showcase the Salzburg Guitar Quartet from Europe along with the Canadian Guitar Quartet, playing together as the G8. Joining this super group will be the newly formed Sudbury Guitar Orchestra performing a work with video installation by Canadian composer Patrick Roux and an improvisational piece created that day.
The third International Dinner and Silent Auction in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 6 pm at the Older Adult Centre in Sudbury.
“Through the International Dinners, we have raised $22,000 in support of music education in Rainbow Schools,” said Bela Ravi, a community representative on the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee. “This event will ensure that the Trust remains sustainable for years to come.”
To thank the community for its contributions, recipient schools will host community concerts that will appeal to music lovers of all ages. The concerts will also feature student musicians from various Rainbow elementary schools.
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.”
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.
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.
-30-
Media Contact:
Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705.674.3171, ext. 7217.