Conservatory gives the gift of music
The first notable curiosity was the black limo bus that pulled up in front of their St. Catharines home.
The girls watched it from their front window. It seemed a bit odd.
Even more extraordinary were the children who clamoured off the bus one by one, and proceeded to dance and jump around on their front lawn.
But most remarkable was the big guy with a white beard dressed all in red ( looking very much like Santa Claus) who stepped off the bus and casually strolled up the sidewalk to their front door. By then, nineyearold Amarayah Castillo and her 10- year- old sister, Adrynah, were suitably perplexed.
And excited.
Then their doorbell rang.
And along with Santa, a group of strangers stepped into their home, came up a set of stairs to their living room and deposited gift wrapped boxes next to their Christmas tree.
At that point, Greg Wierzcholski, owner of Niagara Conservatory of Music, issued clear instructions to Adrynah, who was hovering over the mystery boxes: “Go nuts!”
In mere seconds, she had the wrapping torn off, the box opened and an acoustic guitar in her hands. Ditto for the next box, which held a pink electric guitar.
“We’ve heard it’s your favourite colour. Is that true?” asked Wierzcholski.
Adrynah nodded. And smiled. “You keep up the great work at the conservatory.”
Meanwhile, her sister Amarayah stood near their mother, Andrea, at the back of the crowd. And watched.
Beside her was a brand new, full size 88- key digital piano.
The girls have been taking music lessons from the Niagara Conservatory for more than a year and practised on rented instruments. The surprise pre- Christmas delivery was part of a series of stops that Santa and his musical entourage made on Tuesday, dropping off the gift of instruments to four Niagara schools and three music students who otherwise would not be able to afford their own.
It has become an annual tradition which began three years ago as part of Wierzcholski’s passion to make music accessible to everyone.
After all, music is about more than notes.
It’s about self- confidence. Independence. Camaraderie. And an equalizer of sorts.
“Whether they’re the cool kids at school or the nerdy kids, they come together in music,” he said.
“I see the potential they can achieve. Just witnessing these kids gain so much confidence, it’s incredible.”
The students are part of the studio’s Music Gives program which provides lessons to less- privileged children in Niagara. The families qualify because they are eligible for income- based ProKids funding through Niagara Region. And whether or not they target those funds for music lessons, their kids want to learn to play an instrument. The Music Gives program provides half of the lessons at no cost while parents pay the other half.
There are about 30 students at the conservatory who are being helped by Music Gives funding, said Wierzcholski. And every year, a couple of those students who show the most commitment are on the receiving end of donated instruments.
This year, three schools — Saint Martin in Smithville, Oakridge and St. Peter in St. Catharines — all received donated ukuleles, an acoustic guitar, a variety of percussion instruments and other instruments from their wish lists. Connaught Elementary School in St. Catharines received instruments two years ago, and this year was given a portable digital piano.
Niagara’s award- winning country music singer, Tim Hicks, joined the mobile gift- givers again this year, donating about $ 5,000 to buy instruments. By day’s end, about $ 15,000 worth of instruments was given out, said Wierzcholski.
And as the Castillo girls watched, Hicks pulled out his guitar and encouraged the sisters to follow their dreams.
“You can be whatever you want to be,” he said.
He performed Forever Rebels, a song from his Shake These Walls album, that speaks to standing up to adversity and following your own path in life.
And as all the commotion unfolded in the living room, the girls’ four- yearold brother A. J. who lives with autism slept in the basement.
Their mother said the new instruments will inspire a love of musical expression in her girls.
“They’ll have the confidence to continue on and appreciate music a little more,” she said.
“Music is something they can grow with. Music is in everyone’s life.”
And then, no sooner had their surprise guests arrived at their doorstep, they were gone. Off to make a final delivery — a drum set to an unsuspecting boy.
And the girls, were left to play with their new instruments.