Sun, May 29, 2005

Like the tranquil reflections following a stirring symphony, there are many pleasing melodies lingering from last week's eighth annual Kiwanis Stars of the Festival concert.

Recalling inspiring memories from the finale of the 2005 edition of the London music festival is also a chance to look ahead.

If you were at Centennial Hall last week, you know how good it was, how hundreds of performers, award-winners and festival organizers and supporters won a standing ovation.

If you weren't there, fine music is still all around you. Elementary and secondary schools are now holding spring music nights. At least two are at Centennial Hall.

For two years in a row, I've been the MC for the Kiwanis Stars event. It's a treat to have a seat so close to all that talent.

Even when the action wasn't at the front, it was great. Ace violinist Alexander Read, a London Central secondary school student, played Paganini's Caprice No. 16 from the balcony.

I knew Read excelled with the violin and plays other instruments brilliantly. He also writes an excellent letter.

In recommending Linda Wharton, head of Central's music department, for a Thames Valley District school board award, Read wrote: "It was during a Grade 8 tour of Central that I entered the auditorium and first heard the Jazz Band under Mrs. Wharton's direction. I knew right away that I wanted to be part of that ensemble one day. That was four years ago, and yes, I am now a member of the Central Jazz Band."

He made other points in his letter, a textbook case of a student recognizing how an inspiring teacher helps shape a life inside and outside the classroom.

What made the passage stand out was the way Wharton, by coincidence, made a similar point about events of several years ago helping music and art now.

Wharton led Central's senior concert band to the Stars of the Festival finale with selections from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Grade 12 student Jocelyn Howard sang before the band began to scale those massive Orff-ean mountains of sound. Howard is a bassist with Central's great jazz ensemble. "It's more fun for me to sing," Howard smiled.

It was no accident Howard was in Orff mode on a night for Stars.

"When I heard her sing in Grade 9, I sort of planted the seed that we would be doing this in Grade 12," Wharton says. It helped that Wharton's daughter and Howard were pals at Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts.

With Read and Wharton -- and so many other students and teachers -- there is a symphonic sense of what can be accomplished with the right teachers, students, environment, schools, nature, nurture and challenges.

Central's senior musicians, including individual and group Kiwanis winners, hold their Spring Notes concert Tuesday at Centennial Hall. Orff, with a 130-voice choir, is on the program.

Tomorrow night, same place, same chance for musical wonder, but with a different melody.

String players from CCH and their younger counterparts from the St. Mary choir and orchestra school are at the hall. Again, many collected Kiwanis trophies.

"It's so nice to see them all from Grade 7 up to Grade 12," says CCH string director and music student trip co-ordinator Lisa Gardi. "It gives (the) Grade 7s a chance to hear where they can go."

A CCH music grad, Mary Case, guides the St. Mary players.

This time around, there is the sense of an era ending for CCH music. William Zadorsky led CCH's concert choir through a splendid gospel selection at the Stars concert. Zadorsky is retiring and Gardi is becoming vice-principal at St. Paul's Catholic elementary, but still continuing part-time at CCH. Zadorsky's accomplishments can be saluted at the school's band and vocal concert Wednesday at CCH.

Tomorrow night, the CCH and St. Mary string players join forces for a 180-strong arrangement of The Barber of Seville. Advance word on the Rossini is "huge." Or "amazing."

At school concert time, I truly love those words.

IF YOU GO

What: London secondary school music program concerts at Centennial Hall (672-1967).

Tomorrow -- Transitions in String, all-string ensembles from CCH (Lisa Gardi, conductor) and St. Mary choir and orchestra school (Mary Case, conductor). Free. 7 p.m. Call 433-3471.

Tuesday -- Spring Notes, Central senior ensembles. Adults, $10; seniors/students, $5; family, $25. 7:30 p.m. Call 452-2620.