"The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the Glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." J. S. Bach

April of 2010 will mark the third anniversary of the newly formed "Seaway Valley Celebration Showcase". Conceived as an idea in 2007 by three area teachers, the sponsoring association "Musical Celebration Musicale" has blossomed to five dedicated members who take on the responsibility of organizing and fund-raising for the Showcase. Our focus is still to provide performance opportunities and adjudication for all students regardless of age or level. We also are proud to be a part of the Ontario Music Festivals Association that has been instrumental in encouraging us along our way.

The Celebration Showcase seems to have filled a need in the area. In just its second year, it showed an almost 30 percent increase in entries over the 2008 Showcase. As well, with the help of Scotiabank Alexandria and other generous donors, the amount of scholarships awarded was doubled to $9,000. Although we will not have the generous sponsorship of Scotiabank this year, we will continue to pursue fund-raising efforts on behalf of the Showcase. As well, nine area students were able to take advantage of performing at the Provincial level of competition, learning valuable lessons that they will take home to use to hone their skills.

We were excited last year to include a new venue for the Showcase. The Abbey for the Arts in Glen Nevis generously donated their lovely accommodations which included a performance hall, and rooms where parents and teachers could gather together to share and encourage one another. As well, for a very nominal fee, they provided meals and accommodations for our adjudicators. Trinity Anglican Church in Cornwall still remains an avid supporter of the Showcase. We are very grateful for their support and the use of their facilities for string and band instruments as well as being a most important venue for our Scholarship Fundraising Concert and the Final Showcase Concert. We are thankful for the opportunity to co-operate with them in continuing to make important improvements on their piano. We are also thankful for the support shown to us by COGECO in broadcasting our Showcase Concert in the city of Cornwall.

As we prepare for the 2010 Showcase, we look forward to meeting and encouraging new and existing teachers in the area, as well as their students. Take the time to view the various parts of this website to see where you might be able to be a part of this new venture! If you have some time to spare, we always can use volunteers. If you have some ideas to share, please contact us as we are always looking for new ways to connect with students. If you are a teacher, please encourage your students to take part and peruse the syllabus, guidelines and registration forms at your leisure. If you wish to support this effort financially, there is even a donation letter that you may use to do so.

Finally, we look forward to continuing the work that we have begun together, while sharing and learning from each other along the way. We pray that you will all be encouraged through this celebration of music – the Seaway Valley Celebration Showcase.

Mary Cumming – 613-347-3428

Thérèse Motard – 613-938-8948

Rosemary Harden – 613-678-2078

Gabrielle Campbell – 613-525-0516

Gillian Legroulx – 613-525-5523