FOTMC supports Hinchinbrooke's School of Rock

Nov 04, 2010

Photo:Joan and Roy Shepherd (front far right) present a cheque to Ms. Julia Schall and her class in support of the Hinchinbrooke School of Rock music program

On October 28 Joan and Roy Shepherd, founders of the Frontenac Old Time Music Championships (FOTMC), which just completed its third successful year this past summer at the Bedford Hall, presented a $500 cheque to staff and students at Hinchinbrooke Public School.

One of the goals of the championships is to raise awareness and promote old time country music in the community and every year the organizers makes a donation to a music program in an elementary or primary schools.

This year the FOTMC presentation was made to HPS teacher Julia Schall and her grade 7/8 class in support of the Hinchinbrooke School of Rock, a structured extra-curricular music program that Ms. Schall founded in 2005. Participating students at HPS are taught to play one or more instruments and learn traditional rock music.

The program received its first jump start with a $5000 grant from the Limestone Learning Foundation though which it acquired a number of instruments, recording and video equipment.

The new funds will be used to purchase acoustic guitars so that students can expand their repertoire to include country music as well, which Schall said “is something the students have been really looking forward to.”

She continued, “This is a real honour for us and we are thrilled that the School of Rock program is being recognized throughout the community.”

For Joan and Roy Shepherd, supporting local school music programs has always been an important goal of the FOMTC. “That has always been one of our main mandates,” said Joan “but we are also hoping to encourage children to participate and interact in a safe place and to learn music skills that they can carry with them throughout their lives. I look forward to coming back and seeing some of these young people perform.” The Hinchinbrooke School of Rock will give a public concert at the end of the school year at the IOOF hall in Parham.