By Rori Bennett – Junior Reporter
Throughout the Christmas season, student participants of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board’s Wallaceburg after-school orchestra, ‘Strings Are The Thing’ performed three concerts.
The opportunity to hold the program stems from a grant received from the Musicounts program, which is a charity supporting the advancement of musical education in Canadian schools.
Often times when budgets are cut, the Musicounts program will provide a grant to be spent on musical instruments.
In Wallaceburg, a Musicounts grant funded the purchase of many of the string instruments that are currently part of the educational curriculum, as well as the orchestral program in the three Catholic schools.
“I’m very lucky to be able to teach these talented young people,” Jennifer Trinca, a teacher and the conductor for the group, told the Sydenham Current.
The first concert, which took place on Wednesday, November 21 was a performance for the residents and their families at the Wallaceburg Retirement Residence.
This concert showcased the musical talent of orchestra members from St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Christ the King Catholic School, Holy Family Catholic School, plus returning members from Ursuline College and vocal student, Olivia Hunter.
The second concert was held on Sunday, December 9 at St. James Anglican Church in Wallaceburg. This showcase was filled with musical performances from ‘Strings Are The Thing” after-school orchestra, the Bluewater Vocal Ensemble, private students of Jennifer Trinca, along with flute performances from Melissa Harvest and vocal Soloists John Worthington and Olivia Hunter.
The groups’ final concert was held Thursday, December 13 at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Wallaceburg, with Jennifer Trinca’s String Orchestra, in conjunction with Mrs. Christine Prosser’s vocal students.
Here are some photos from the performances:
