I posted part four youtube video, as part of my educational series

     A couple of days ago, I recorded and posted a part four video to Youtube channel, dealing specifically with Listening.  I mention John Torcello, Charles Ives, R. Murray Schafer, and Esprit Orchestra.  It’s a reasonable length in duration, about 2 minutes and 30 seconds.  I think this is good, short and to the point. It’s been some months since my last posting.  When I began this project, I thought I would consistently contribute a new video every 1-2 weeks.  Maybe, hopefully, I can prepare to post a new video once-a-month, moving forward?

Paul Anka, Barry Manilow, Elmer Iseler and more

 As mentioned in previous postings, I have been de-cluttering my workspace in the basement.  I still have work to do, but gradually, the project is moving forward.  I have been noticing many old photos, and articles, and materials from my teaching.  Yesterday, I discovered some music arrangements that date back to my high school days, then, attending Downsview Secondary School.  

     The choir at the school was quite good, directed by music department head:  Dave Richards.  I attended Downsview S.S. for grades 12 and 13.  I enjoyed my experience, played on a few school sports teams and participated in the school choir and concert band.  Dave Richards tapped into many interesting opportunities, partnering with various organizations.  I think it’s because he too was an active singer with outside-the-school organizations.

     Our choir was large, rehearsing during the day, after school and once-a-week, in the evening!  The Choir did have a good reputation and so, it was invited to perform on occasion.  One year, McDonald’s Canada was celebrating 30 years, so, Paul Anka was hired to perform at a theatre (I forget which one in Toronto), and as a part of the many music selections he sang that evening, in concert, he decided to include a high school choir as back-up singers.  It was great to rehearse with the musical director, visiting our school.  I think Dave Richard’s partnership work with the school music program and networking influenced me as a teacher, because that’s one of the features that inspired me - always trying to network, establish partnerships and bring opportunities into my school, to encourage engagement and to also generate support for the music program.  One of the things a music teacher must always do is promote and sell their program.  So, I’m certain that my experience in high school with Dave Richards influenced me as a teacher.  That particular night in concert with Paul Anka was interesting.  We were placed high above the stage on platforms and covered with a dark drape, that was sort of transparent and part of the decor.

     Our choir was also invited as back up singers for a concert delivered by Barry Manilow, at Maple Leaf Gardens.  For some reason, I was not able to make this performance.  I think I had a major performance of my own that I simply could not re-schedule.

     It was so amazing to work with Elmer Iseler, and the Elmer Iseler Singers, or at that time, it could have been the Mendelssohn Singers - I do not remember.  We also sang with Giles Bryant ( a jolly man, with a thick beard, who apparently was a great organist?)  We managed to get the Elmer Iseler Singers (not Elmer Iseler, who passed away) to work with Michelle Janzen and our music students for 2-3 years while at Saint Elizabeth Catholic High School - RAP program!  And, that particular summer of 1980, while on tour in Nova Scotia with the Meet the Navy Show, I was rehearsing in the basement of a church, and over heard a choir rehearsing above me.  It sounded beautiful, and so I went upstairs to listen - It was Elemer Iseler rehearsing for an upcoming concert!  Elemer Iseler attended the show:  Meet the Navy the next night!!

     Dave Richards also offered a great opportunity to me to perform an accordion concerto with the Downsview Secondary School Music students and some professional musicians (another neat feature I was exposed to, which incidentally happened to me on many occasions in my teaching career with the Esprit Orchestra).  It was a Lothar Klein Concerto.  What a great opportunity for a high school student.  That Year, I also was awarded:  C. Laughton Bird Senior Music Award, the first year it was created.  I played the Accordion and impressed the judges.  Glenn Wood was one of the judges, and getting to know him helped me with my teaching career in the first few years.  Glenn Wood was coordinator of music education in North York.  So, Dave Richards certainly played a role in my music development.  I think, I did the same with a few music students I worked with in my teaching career, creating opportunities for them to explore a career in Music Performance and in Education.