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10 Sports & Leisure, Friday, June 13, 2008 ENTERTAINMENT Music for Young Children students awarded for compositions at recital were (from left) Gregory Hoornweg, Steven Macdonnell, Jillian Godden and Paige Kunica. Local music students do well in competition Local Music for Young Children students, under the tutelage of Gloria Wood, excelled at the recent International Composition Festival. The Festival now in its 21st year is the largest in the world of its kind. Every year Music for Young Children students have the opportunity to participate in this festi- val. Children strengthen their aural, reading and harmo- ny skills through music composition. Composing is a long-term project, well worth the effort. The International winner in Georgetown, Steven Macdonnell, is in his third year of Music for Young Children and placed first in Ontario and fourth Internationally in Sunbeams 3 for Winter is Coming. MYC teacher Gloria Wood was particularly pleased with her students compositions including these students who placed as finalists: Gregory Hoornweg for The Polar Bear, Jillian Godden for Blue Moon and Paige Kunica for The Swan. This year 12,710 students from across Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea took part in the festival. Compositions are judged within their level in eight different regions: Western Canada, Ontario, Eastern Canada, United States, South Korea, Singapore and New Zealand. The first place winners of each of these regions then go on to be judged internationally. Fifteen reviewers, including world renowned British composer and recording artist Christopher Norton, played every piece. Norton said, I really enjoyed the experience. There were more than 12,000 entries, and Im sorry to say that I didnt personally see every single one. But the many entries I did see indicated that theres lots of enthusiasm and creativity among young people in Canada (and the U.S., Singapore and South Korea!). It always stood out if a student had a clear idea about the chords they really wanted to use, or wanted an effective variation in their melody or liked piano textures that were a bit different from the ones you always hear. Creative solutions stood out! The lessons they will have learned from notating their own pieces and playing around with a very specific set of notes and rhythms will lead to better lis- tening and ultimately a love of music for life. The successful Music for Young Children program, with corporate head office in Kanata, was founded in 1980 by Frances Balodis. The program, taught in small groups with adult and child both participating, includes piano instruction, singing, rhythm ensembles, sight read- ing, ear training, theory and composition. For more information on the local program, contact Wood, 905- 877-8549 gloriamyc@yahoo.ca. Books wanted for charity sale Community Living North Halton is in need of books (good condition hard or soft cover) for a book sale fundraiser to occur at Georgetown Farmers Market on Saturday, July 12. Please bring donated books to Horizon Packaging at 12 Todd Rd., Georgetown. Proceeds from book sale will go to CLNH Drop In Centre. Talent Night in Acton Knox Presbyterian Church, 44 Main St. N., Acton is having a Talent Night, on Saturday, June 21, 7 p.m. Karaoke and open mic. Share your talents... sing, tell jokes, play a musical instrument, etc. Free admission. Delicious refreshments. Bring your friends and neigh- bours. Anne of Green Gables day Celebrate 100 years of Anne of Green Gables in Norval Park, located off Mary Street in Norval on Saturday, June 21. This family event will feature an Anne of Green Gables look-alike contest, refreshments with raspberry cordial, poetry reading, garden tours and more. Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is free. Website: www.norval.ca or www.lmmontgomerynorval.ca