A BIG CROWD HEARS THE MUSIC AT Beurling Academy

It was, as usual, the artistic event on the local school scene, as around 400 or more attendees showed up to hear the musical and vocal talents of their sons, daughters, and friends in the 10th music concert in BA’s history, under the direction of the tireless music teacher Gary Lindner, in most likely, the biggest crowd ever last Thursday evening to see that abundance of talent that BA has.

All class levels were represented and that talented vocal talent was also highlighted, and the evening began with Phil St.George fresh from his appearance at the TOPS show, followed by that trio of Andy Wong, Tyler Tibbo, and Mathieu Chamberland.

Then it was on to some great singing. Samantha Cambridge, one of this year’s grads, gave us two excellent songs including a heartfelt rendition of Miley Cyrus’ Bottom of the Ocean, and then another grad, the wonderful Kayla Vardon, sang us a powerful version of Christina Aguilera’s The Voice Within and later came back to do Respect with the Sec 4 band and then sang one of her favorites, At Last.

Also, during this section, Rosemary Laposta sang with Amanda Kovacks on the Eagles’ big hit, Hotel California followed by a cute tune she sang and in a nice gesture, invited her sister to join her on stage for a little dancing to the song.

Star flute soloist and Sec 3 student was next and played an excellent version of the Beatles’ Yesterday, the most recorded song in history, and later came back to sing for the first time a song, with Sabeena Dorrington and Olivia Klimke-Carter, she wrote called, Rear View Mirror.

Then it was the return to the BA stage of honored grad, the one and only Susan Young, which I had the pleasure of arranging and delighted to do a special intro. The crowd relived that musical magic one more time of Susan singing accompanied by Gary Lindner and his right-on jazzy/bluesy stylings on the keys with Mr.Bass himself on bass, Kevin Earle. Susan sang Norah Jones’ Turn me On, and then later came back to sing John Lennon’s Imagine in the style of Eva Cassidy. This was suitable being the 40th anniversary of John and Yoko’s bed-in for peace at the Queen E.

The parade of bands then followed with the Sec 3 band and they were smokin’ hot playing the Fab Four’s Here There and Everywhere, and rocked on Born to be Wild and the mandatory Beurling Blues, which featured nifty solos by saxophonist Jaden Scholes and Mr. Cool himself in the shades, Devon Walcott on trumpet.

The Sec 2 band keeps on getting better with fantastic renditions of classics My Funny Valentine and Beauty and the Beast which had a proud Gary Lindner standing back and looking on from the side at his second year students. To Gary L. and all the music students, thanks for another great year of music.

VERDUN ELEMENTARY

The Suspicious Fish After School Writing Program, in its 3rd year, will be holding a public reading next Wednesday June 10th at 6:30 in the Verdun Elementary auditorium.

The reading corresponds with the long-awaited book release of their new anthology of stories that have been produced over the course of this school year and they’re anxious to share tales of hard-luck-kids with unibrows, aliens, dragons, clowns, Jello, and…well, you’ll just have to come by and be blown away by what the authors have managed to conjure up this past year.

There will be snacks and an opportunity to mingle with the young stars as well as a chance to purchase a copy of the book which will cost ten dollars each. Proceeds from the book sales will go towards funding for next year’s program.