Students strum up €700 for charity
GOREY’S Strumasong Guitar and Ukulele School finished off 2019 with a held fundraiser held in Tesco Gorey in support of Crumlin Children’s Hospital which saw €700 collected from shoppers during a two hour performance.
It was a celebration for all as the children sang Christmas songs and played the ukulele and the guitar for all to hear.
Jackie Symes of the school expressed her appreciation to all played their part and those who made generous donations, as well as Tesco for giving them the required space.
‘Crumlin is a cause close to my heart and this fundraiser was something we wanted to do to give back. I want to thank the children first and foremost because they were magnificent.
‘They really sang out and were delighted with the support. I can’t forget to thank the parents as well who held the collection buckets, the kids just loved it’.
Jackie was also on hand before Christmas for the Gorey Central School concert, which saw a group of youngsters show their talents and play for teachers, parents and grandparents.
‘Getting them to this stage was a real milestone for the school, as some students had only started their learning in October and they performed so well.
‘I was able to cater for all regardless of their levels, so those who had started earlier were included as were the newcomers,’ said Jackie.
She described concerts like these as the backbone of the whole operation.
‘It’s about boosting their confidence, and concerts are a challenge for different children to promote self esteem. The content of what we do has to come from what the children want to play and sing. I usually pull from what they are listening to on the radio or in the charts, like Ed Sheeran, Dua Lip and Freya Ridings.
‘It’s so important that children like what they are learning so that we can push and challenge them, from melody to riff and incorporating that to what they are familiar with’.
Looking ahead now to 2020, Jackie hopes that there will be more fundraisers like that in Tesco as well as some more concerts from the stars of the show, the children.