The Annual Rotary Club of Campbell River’s Honours Concert celebrates the artistic talents of exceptional young people in our community.
It speaks to the dedication of teachers and parents in keeping the artistic threads of the past alive to pass onto future generations. As children’s author, Hendrik Willem van Loon wrote: “The arts are an even better barometer of what is happening in our world than the stock market or the debates in congress.”
The award winners at this year’s concert, to be held on Saturday at the Tidemark, showcase this artistic talent, as well as the variety and scope of the arts available in our community.
This year’s performers include:
Carter Johnson - Johnson began studying piano in Campbell River with Shelley Roberts at the age of five. He progressed very quickly, receiving Distinction on his RCM Grade 10 exam at the young age of 12. He has accumulated an extensive list of awards and achievements, one of the most significant was his win of second place, at the age of 14, in the Canada-wide CFMTA National Piano Competition, held in Regina, where he competed with students up to the age of 24.
Matthew Krell - Krell, 17, studies piano with Shelley Roberts and theory with Sandy Havelaar. He represented the North Island at the B.C. Festival of Performing Arts last year and was chosen runner-up in intermediate piano. He was co-winner of the 2012 Dorothy Brealey Memorial Scholarship. This past Christmas, he accompanied for River City Players’ Production of Mother Goose at the Tidemark Theatre. Presently, Krell is teaching piano, accompanying voice and string students and preparing for the ARCT exam in piano performance.
Tara School of Irish Dancing - The Tara School of Irish Dancing was opened seven years ago in Campbell River under the direction of Margaret Mullen, a teacher and adjudicator registered with the Irish Dancing Commission, Dublin, Ireland. The dancers have a community performance focus, performing at many community events throughout the year and presenting a major show at the Tidemark Theatre each year.
Urban Dance Connection - The UDC Performance Team trains in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Pointe and Modern. The team uses its training for annual ballet exams, performing arts festivals and dance competitions as well as its own productions and recitals. With the support of strong classical training and involved dance families, UDC Team has members that have won awards at Provincial Levels, have gone on to graduate with their University Degrees in Dance and who train at various national ballet schools.
Pacifica Ukes - Vince Sequeira’s Pacifica Ukes ukulele ensemble from Campbell River has been in existence for 23 years. The members of the group are all students ranging from grades 9-12 and are selected by audition each year. The group has earned a reputation locally and abroad for their versatility and for the quality of their musical performances as a ukulele orchestra, showcasing their talents on the small instrument.
Campbell River Children’s Choir – Under the direction of Barbara Prowse, the Choir has been offering professional vocal instruction to young people who want to share their love of singing and music with others for over 25 years. They have sung in international festivals across North America, in Great Britain and in Cuba. Highlights have been singing in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall and in Canterbury Cathedral in the UK. Next year the group will travel to Nashville and will perform at the historic Grand Ole Opry House.
Grace Rebeiro - Born in Victoria, Rebeiro relocated to Campbell River in 2008. She started her formal vocal training with Kristy Miller Vocal Studio in 2009 and has developed a love and talent for Musical Theatre. Rebeiro represented the North Island in Musical Theatre at the Provincials in 2012. This year she started studying piano with Carter Johnson and is working to develop a classical singing repertoire.
Raincoast Creative Performing Arts - is committed to excellence in musical theatre with a strong vocal focus combined with choreography and acting. A select group of senior performing arts students will perform at the concert.
Rory Shade - At the age of four Shade sang in his church choir in Nanaimo. At the age of six, he started music lessons with Chalium Poppy who introduced him to classical music, which soon became his passion. After moving to Campbell River at age 8, he continued his voice studies with Connie Preston. Shade is from the Laichkwiltach Nation in Campbell River and proud of both his Maori and First Nations heritage. Shade’s life dream is to become a professional Opera singer. He hopes to go to the University of British Columbia School of Music Opera program after he graduates from Carihi High School.
Corey Spetifore - 17-year old Corey Spetifore has reveled in his studies of classical guitar for well over half his life, having started lessons at the age of seven with Helga Hagen. Appreciating a wide variety of musical instruments and genres, Spetifore also plays piano, trombone, electric guitar, and drums. Spetifore was the North Island rep for classical guitar at the BC Performing Arts Provincials for three consecutive years, where in 2010 he won first place for Junior Classical Guitar; was runner-up in 2011 for Intermediate Classical Guitar and was honoured to perform his ‘Best Canadian Piece’ at the 2011 Provincials Finale concert. Recently completing his RCM Grade 10 Classical Guitar exam with First Class Honours, Spetifore is excited to continue his studies of classical guitar next year at the University of Victoria.
CR DanceXTreme - CR DanceXtreme Inc. is a dance school that promotes confidence, discipline, technique and knowledge of dance at an elite level, offering a wide array of styles, such as: jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical, hip hop, boys only hip hop and musical theatre.
Winner of the Ruth Scott Chopin Competition. Ruth Scott was a beloved piano teacher in the Campbell River area for many years. Chopin was her favorite composer and the family has established a scholarship in her name.
Heather Gordon Murphy, Director and Stage Manager - Bringing with her a lifetime of creative skills from professional ballet to costume design and singing to stage choreography – Heather Gordon Murphy’s expertise is constantly being sought after by individuals and community groups who benefit from her unique ability to inspire, create and coordinate artistic events.
Rotarians have long been committed to serving youth in their communities. Rotary offers educational programs such as Rotary Peace Fellowships, and provides grant funds for scholarships and service projects conducted by, or benefiting, youth. These student/youth programs can change the lives of those who participate; young people can earn scholarships, travel on cultural exchanges, or help a community through a service project.
The New Generations Avenue of Service – which became Rotary’s fifth “Avenue of Service” in 2010 – streamlines the exceptional work that Rotarians do with youth and young adults. It entrenches a fundamental idea: that every Rotarian has a responsibility to support the personal and professional success of young people, while recognizing the diversity of their needs.
Tickets to the concert are $20 each, and are available at The Tidemark, or on-line at www.tidemarktheatre.com