Australia: Passion for music benefits hospital and bushfire victims
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Duncraig, Western Australia
Sam Parry of the Duncraig Ward, Perth Australia Warwick Stake, recently presented a donation of $15,000 to Vern Reid, CEO of The Princess Margaret Children's Hospital, on behalf of The West Australian Charity Orchestra (WACO).
The donation was the proceeds of a charity concert held in February by Sam and his friends. Half of the $15,000 donation would go to the victims of the Victorian Bushfires and the other half to the hospital, according to Mr. Reid.
Sam's passion for music is both inspirational and contagious. He plays five instruments, mostly woodwind, and he studies music at the West Australian Performing Arts Centre. While in high school, he developed an idea to do charity work. After spending holiday time with musical friends in jam sessions and discussing possibilities with his parents, Geoff and Kay Parry, the idea began to take shape.
Sam then sought to turn his idea into a reality by visiting schools and universities in Western Australia, inviting students to join his orchestra. With a good initial response, they soon had 80 members that rehearsed the entire two-month summer holiday.
When the time finally arrived for their first concert, the 80-member orchestra and the 110-member choir brought in $8,500 that was donated to the hospital. The concert was such a success that the Charity Orchestra organizers asked for a second performance, which was the recent February concert.
On another occasion, 40 of the orchestra members organized a marching band that took part in the annual Channel 7 Christmas Pageant last December.
Burhan Guner, musical director of the University of Western Australia Choral Society, participated as the guest orchestra conductor for the evening. Donna Taylor of the Warwick Ward and music theatre graduate of Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts, served as a guest choral conductor; and Colin Jones of Doubleview Ward was the evening's Master of Ceremonies.
The performance featured something for everyone: Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture, John Williams' Star Wars, Opera soloist Deborah Roger singing Rogers and Hammerstein on Broadway, and oboe soloist Fiona Coad's rendition of Way out West.
As the orchestra finished, the 1,500 member audience rose in their seats and gave a standing ovation.
