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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, December 14, 2012 · 32 By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Violinist Leslie Ashworth releases Christmas album Teen violinist Leslie Ashworth says every child has a unique gift to offer. Her gift, she hopes, is playing the violin. She has even ensured it is so, spending countless hours every day since the age of four practicing the string instrument. Now, the 15-year-old Oakville musician is offering that sound to the world with her second CD, a Christmas album titled A Child's Gift. "I believe every child is born with a gift and it's just waiting to be discovered, so I thought this CD would be great for children," she said. "I love playing the violin and I'm lucky to be able to play and have opportunities like recording a CD." And like her first CD, this album will also help make a gift to Free the Children as a portion of the proceeds from its sales will go to the charitable organization. Ashworth said she's excited to once again support Free the Children with her music. "I just wanted to do something special for them because I really believe it is such a wonderful organization," she said. She actually met Free the Children co-founder Marc Kielburger at a gala she performed nikki wesley / oakville beaver / @halton_photog a child's gift: Oakville violinist Leslie Ashworth released a Christmas album titled A Child's Gift. It is available at L'Atelier Grigorian and online. at when she was 12, just before And yes, to go along with the releasing her first album Precious violin, Ashworth plays the piano as Musical Moments. well. She even achieved the "We were talking and I got this Associate of the Royal Conservatory idea I'd like to support them of Toronto in the instrument. because it's such a wonderful orgaShe loves composing music and nization, helping less fortunate intends to include some original children. When I recorded my first pieces in her next classical music CD, I wanted to donate a portion of CD, which she intends to release the proceeds to Free the Children," sometime in 2013. she said. Ashworth can be heard perSince then, forming once a she's performed "I believe every child is month for at Free the born with a gift and it's just patients at Children fundOakvilleraisers and recit- waiting to be discovered, so Trafalgar als and com- I thought this CD would be Memorial posed a music great for children." Hospital's recrepiece for the ational floor, organization, Leslie Ashworth, violinist where she does called For the recitals as a volChildren. unteer. She also dedicates one of the Ashworth will also have a CD songs, What Child Is This?, on the release party on Sunday, Dec. 23 Christmas album to Free the inside the black box theatre at Children and the all the children Queen Elizabeth Park Community around the world. and Cultural Centre, 2302 Bridge A Child's Gift features 14 tracks, Rd. The recital begins at 2 p.m. which Ashworth said consist of her Admission is by donation to Free favourite Christmas carols. She the Children. arranged the violin and piano parts The CD will be available at the on the CD. On the album, she plays recital. It is also available at L'Atelier the violin and her piano teacher, Grigorian in downtown Oakville Ruta Vaidade, plays the piano. and in Toronto, or online on iTunes, "I kept the traditional spirit of amazon.ca, or cdbaby.com. The the pieces, but I wanted to add a album is available in CD form or as unique character at the same a digital download. time," she said of the arrangeFor more information, visit ments. www.leslieashworth.com. Buskerfest Passion for reading nikki wesley / oakville beaver / @halton_photog photos by eric riehl / oakville beaver / @halton_photog by children: The Halton Our Kids Network (OKN) recently held its Buskerfest at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre's Do Your Part! Halton 2012 Conference on Positive Youth Development. The buskerfest featured a number of children and professional performers. Among the performers are Eduard Brenninkmeijer (left) juggling and Live, Dream, Dance Studio performing songs from Seussical. Walters spoke with students at St. Marguerite School recently, telling them about his novels and how he has helped young people develop a passion for reading. author says: Award winning Canadian author Eric