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Assistant Managing Editor EAST LONGMEADOW Julia Merton cannot stop raving about what East Longmeadow school district's music program has meant to her. The 16-year-old high school junior is hoping to show a small token of her appreciation with a Nov. 28 piano recital in the high school's auditorium. The benefits of the "Many Hands Piano Recital" are triple-fold: Merton can fulfill her project duties for the Girl Scouts' prestigious Gold Award, youth can showcase their musical talents and the high school's grand piano can receive its second round of renovations thanks to the funds that are raised. Merton has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and her mother Jennifer has been her scout leader since kindergarten. At the age of seven she started taking piano lessons and since then has been dually committed to the scouts and music, adding singing to her resume and taking on the flute in fifth grade. Her mother said the recital is basically a cumulative project. "The goal is to support the music program in East Longmeadow, but to also provide renovations to the piano," Jennifer explained. "I'm really proud of her. Music has been a long standing interest for her." Merton tried emphasize just how important the music program is to her. "I wanted to put something back in the community that had something to do with music. The high school grand piano, this past summer, had the first set of renovations done to it," Merton explained. "I wanted to raise money to continue the second half of the renovations. I thought the best way to do that would be to have a piano recital for people of all ages. It's a wonderful program and I really wanted to give back to that because it helped me so much throughout my high school career." Merton hopes to raise $700 from the recital. The evening promises performances from 13 students spanning grades two through 12. Those slated to perform include Colin Mason, 12th grade; Julia Merton, 11th grade; Chris Allum, 10th grade; Ashley Madison, ninth grade; Chris Tarbell, eighth grade; Phoebe Olin, seventh grade, Kristen Flanagan, sixth grade; Catherine Merton, sixth grade; Emma Paulides, sixth grade; Wesley Olin, fifth grade; Lacey Paulides, fourth grade; Madelyn Austin, fourth grade; and Zain Najeebi, second grade. Merton encourages residents to come out and support the music program. She thanked JP Kiernan, the band director at East Longmeadow High School, Carol Toth, the choral director at East Longmeadow High School, and her piano teacher, Abby Thomsen, for their help and encouragement with the project. "I want to emphasize how much this is based on the music program. It's wonderful," she added. "I want to recognize how important it is and how major a part it is in the community." The "Many Hands Piano Recital" will take place Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. in the East Longmeadow High School auditorium. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 and children under 14 are free. Donations are also welcomed. | ||||||
