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24 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 13, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene · FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2009 NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER SWEET SOUNDS: Oakville Children's Choir members, from left, Naomi Frazer, Cassie Chisholm and Jenny Ross get dramatic with Sound of Music cast member Janet Martin and a playbill signed by the production's current cast. The playbill will be auctioned off at the fourth annual concert in support of the St. Lucia Learning Project at St. Paul's United Church on Feb. 23. OCC's sounds of music to be heard in St. Lucia By Tanya Kostiw SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Young Oakville choristers and St. Lucia students will join cast members from The Sound of Music for a night of musical fun while raising money for a good cause. St. Paul's United Church will be hosting the fourth annual benefit concert to raise funds for the St. Lucia Learning Project on Feb. 23. "This will be the biggest one yet," said Janet Martin, the event's producer. Martin, who is in the Toronto offBroadway musical The Sound of Music, will perform with about 20 cast members and musicians, including Janna Polzin, runner-up from the CBC program, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? "Sometimes you can use your own talents to help other people," said Martin. "It's nice to know that you're helping out in a real way and not just giving money to a large corporation." The St. Lucia Learning Project is an Oakville-based organization that provides educational opportunities to underprivileged children in St. Lucia. This is the project's major fundraiser, said its founder and executive director Michelle Anderson. The money raised will go toward its school programs, teacher workshops and Camp Sylvester, a day camp for students to further their learning. The Sound of Musicals concert will feature music from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, The Wiz and other musicals. The intermediate division of the Oakville Children's Choir (OCC) will also perform. "We see it as a great opportunity for our children to give back to other children in need," said Judy Opar, executive director of the Oakville Children's Choir. "It's amazing how the kids enjoy being part of some- "Sometimes you can use your own talents to help other people. It's nice to know that you're helping out in a real way and not just giving money to a large corporation. Janet Martin, Sound of Music cast member thing that's positive and looking after kids in other parts of the world." The choir members will even have Janna Polzin the chance to see the children they are helping. A video featuring Camp said Anderson. Last year, it raised Sylvester students singing a re-writ- $4,500. In an effort to exceed that this ten Bob Marley Thank You song will year, there will be a silent auction at be shown at the concert. the concert with items such as tickets Martin is anticipating a larger for The Sound of Music production. audience this year. She thinks Polzin Regardless of how much money is will attract a lot of people. raised, Anderson hopes it will inspire The fundraiser changed venues people to make a difference. this year because it outgrew its space, "We live in one of the richest com- munities in Canada and that comes with responsibility." It doesn't matter whether we help people in St. Lucia, Africa or Canada, she said, as long as we are doing something positive. "We really need to think of our community today as a global community, not just our own little neck of the woods where we live," said Opar. This is the first time the Oakville Children's Choir has performed for the St. Lucia Learning Project's annual fundraiser, but it has been involved with charitable events in the past. "We like to do community outreach," said Opar. The intermediate choir is comprised of nearly 40 youths in Grades 3 to 8. The Sound of Musicals will be held at St. Paul's United Church at 7:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 23. Tickets are available at Good Books, Chartwell Baptist Church and St. Paul's United Church for $25 ($20 for seniors and students).