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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-12-18, Page 6Tunes -Advocate, December 18, 1991 Ai Community spirit making music at South Huron By Ray Lewis EXETER - A crowd of nearly 350 turned out at South Huron Dis- trict High School Wednesday eve- ning to listen to songs of the Christmas season. The concert was performed by the SHDHS concert and jun- io bands as Q well as the Exete r Community Band, with .proceeds donated to the food bank. The evening raised $160 and 10 boxes of food for the bank, quite an accomplishment. But it ended up being more than a simple dona- tion for members of the music pro- gram. It was a way of giving thanks to the community which gave the program its birth and now nurtures it. Five years ago you wouldn't have found a band at South Huron. The Community Band itself has yet to celebrate a birthday. But thanks to some dedicated personnel at the school, and the continued support of the community, the foundation for a successful program has been laid. "It started with a strong commu- nity spirit," confirms music teach Rob Robilliard, who is also co- ordinator of music for the Huron County Board of Education. "Y4u can only begin to imagine the amount of work that went into it." Until the early 1960s, South Hu- ron possessed an excellent choral program. In 1985. teacher Jean Waring attempted to restore the music program at the high school, by forming an instrumental section. A local sorority set out to help by raising over half of the funds re- quired to start the program. In 1987, Robilliard arrived from Napanee where he had spent the past eight years as head of the mu- sic department. In that time he guided the school's jazz band to the national finals in seven of eight years, and took the concert band to the nationals in each of its three seasons. Originally from London, Robilliard wanted to move closer to home, and South Huron offered him a chance to rebuild a music program. "The key to any type of activity like this is to have a nucleus of kids that like to do it and want to work hard together," assured Robilliard. "We've been fortunate enough to have both." Upon his arrival. 65 students were enrolled in the blossoming music program. Both the senior band and choir contained only 20 members. But the school has seen an amazing transformation. It now boasts 175 students in music, with a 45 -member concert band, a 20 - piece ja2z band and a choir 60 voic- es strong. In addition, the school hopes to have a vocal music class in place for next year, which will be conducted by Ruth Claessens. The success has even led to thoughts of beginning a junior band in the spring. Up until now this has been difficult, because most feeder schools don't have an instrumental music program. "I think it's really important for kids to get involved in sports or music or both," said Robilliard. "It keeps them from thinking of some of the negative things they could be doing." In addition, statistics seem to prove that extracurricular activities such as music and sports actually help to improve grades. In a recent study, it was found that students who participate in these events on average hold higher grades because it teaches them successful time management. Stats also illustrate that 65 percent of students who went on to become doctors or law- yers took instrumental music in high school. Students entering the music pro gram in grade nine are asked to make three choices of instrument after having a chance to listen to each. The class is then divided up by formula designed for balance. According to Robilliard, the most popular instrument varies from year to year, but the biggest request usu- ally comes for the drums. "It's hard for them to make a choice so quickly," said Robilliard. "The other tough aspect is over- coming thoughts of instant success. It takes a lot of work." For band members, practice rang- es from 1-2 , per week. as does the choir ch is conducted by Claessens. band requires the least am t pf practice time, but one must fust belong to the sen- ior band in order to join. As for the community band,\ it boasts 28 member's, which is great considering itsyou Under the sponsorship of the eter Legion, the band has definitely served its function. "The whole purposeof the band is to get people together and enjoy making music together," confirmed Robilliard. +I think we have accom- plished that." The band practices. Monday nights and anybody (especially flute or clarinet people) is invited to attend. Skill level is not a factor for the pdSpdtiive 'ineiihber, • and neither is age. Currently, musi- cians range from age 9-83. About the only problem for the organization is funding, although once again the community has been fabulous. Members of the high school band spend a few how* each weekend making mini -pizzas which they sell as a fund raiser to cover expenses. Musical piecds range in price from $30-$100, and cannot be copied, while instru- ments cost anywhere from $350 fora flute to $1600 fora tympani drum. The bands come together for concerts on time separate occa- sions throughout the year. While the Christmas concert genp lifts for the food bank, another free leaving only the third to,raiae money for the program its+: the past they have also perfo at churches and banquets, thrice years ago competed in an in- terriational festival in Boston, a first+for the school. "Fair their very first experience in a Festival, they did very. said Robilliard. This; year they hope to reach a similar event in Montreal in tMay, as wells an April festival don, Ontario. Five alcohol offences in provincial court EXETER - Alcohol related offences filled the dock- et last Tuesday in Provincial court in Exeter. BAC over 80 Geoffrey A. Donaldson of Grosse Point Farms, Michigan pleaded guilty to a charge of having a blood alcohol content over 80. An officer told the court he observed a vehicle trav- elling north on Highway 21 at 2:16 a.m. in Stephen Township on August 24. The vehicle turned east onto Highway 83, swerved and skidded off the road, hit- ting a fence and rolling. Police said two female passengers crawled from the vehicle with a beer odor, and samples taken showed an alcohol content of 160 and 160 mg. The accused said he was unfamiliar with his father's vehicle and lost control on the shoulder while trying to turn around. Judge R.G.B. Hunter gave Donaldson the choice of a $750 fine or 35 days in jail and issued a 12 -month license suspension. BAC over 80 James R. Kemps of London pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with a BAC over 80. The court heard the accused was stopped for speeding while eastbound on Huron St. in Exeter at 3:12 a.m. November 16. Kemps failed an alert test with sample readings of 120 and 120. The accused was fined $750 or 35 days with six months to pay and had his license suspended for 12 months. BAC over 80 Dwayne R. Hayter of Crediton was fined $750 or 35 days with 30 days to pay after pleading guilty to a charge of driving with a BAC over 80. The court heard the accused was driving south on Main St. in Exeter on November 17 at 1:55 a.m. when his vehicle was observed weaving in its own lane. Hayter failed subsequent alert tests with readings of 165 and 164. Hayter was also given a 12 month driving suspension. BAC over 80 Raymond J. Glover of New Hamburg entered a guilty plea to driving with a BAC over 80 after an incident July 19 in Stephen Township. The .court heard that at 11:46 p.m. the accused was northbound on County Road 21 when he was observed on the wrong side of the mad. Two samples were taken with readings of 200 and 194. Glover was fined $750 or 35 days and given a 12 -month suspension. Impaired driving A guilty plea to a charge of impaired driving netted Dale B. Allen of Dashwood a fine of $750 or 35 days with six months to pay and a 12 month suspension following an incident November 1. Police officers told the court they were parked at the Dashwood Medical Centre in Stephen Township when they saw a truck backing from a private drive very slowly and jerkily 81 12:34 a.m. The vehicle then went north on Centre St. speeding. Allen was described as very unsteady and samples taken gave readings of 130 and 140. Failure to remain at scene Mark Jason Hartford of Centralia pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident after an incident September 6 in Ste- phen Township at 1:20 a.m. Police told the court they received several calls of erratic driving on Co- lumbia Drive in Huron Park. A vehicle turned onto the drive, entered the right ditch, then the left ditch, hit a parked vehicle at 177 Columbia and went across the road striking a tree. The driver then drove twine; appe,aring intoxicated.• The accused was arrested one or two hours later and said he was unfamiliar with the car. Hartford was fined $600 or 30 days with five months to pay. ttl ' Drivingwhile suspended d Richard C. Lavalee of Cambridge ent plea of guiltyh charge of driving while suspended after an incident on June 2. Police told the court they stopped the vehicle of the accused in Exeter at 4:25 p.m. on Thames Road for speeding. Further investigation showed the accused's license had been sus- pended since November 13, 1990 for driving while'disqualified. The accused has a lengthy record and has been in Alcoholics Anonymous for 18 months. Lavalee told the court his wife had driven him to Goderich but was feeling ill so he was driving home. No alcohol was involved. Lavalee was sentenced to 90 days of jail in Kitchener and judge Hunter recommended a temporary absence program whereby the accused may work during the day and serve his sentence at night. Possession of prohibited weapon Jeremy D. Morgan of Huron Park entered a guilty plea to a charge of possessing a prohibited weapon. The court heard police received information at 1:40 a.m. on Octo- ber 5 of an individual carrying a shuriken, a martial arts "throwing star." Police found the accused in a storage shed behind Laurentian Bank in Exeter with the shuriken and a 6" knife. The accused said he had no intention of using eitlpr weapon and had found the throwing star earlier that evening. He Claimed to use them for defense against animals while walking a)ong the railroad tracks. Morgan was fined $100 or five days in jail with 60 days to pay. A