www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 2, 2007 - 5 Putting a new spin on old hymns Continued from page 3 the less accomplished ones surprised at what they can do." The minister praised Donaldson for his ability to bring out the best in the congregation. "I have witnessed a Ghaniaian woman who cannot read being delighted to find a way to sing in church, a mother from Japan who learns English through singing at choir practice, and a 13-yearold boy who played the violin serves God in the community alongside adult musicians." "Andrew's ability to coach the very best out of the choirs he leads is legendary," writes former moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, Glen Davis. "His passion and enthusiasm are contagious." His unique addition to the church was praised in all letters. "He is distinct from the hundreds of other fine musicians who work to bring quality to Presbyterian worship in the purity of his vision, intellectual consistency and the extraordinary poetic level of his writing," wrote James Donald Anderson, who co-edited the 1977 Presbyterian "I was asked to bring musical change when I came to this church. I also had to reassure people I wasn't throwing out the musical tradition here." Andrew Donaldson, pastoral musician and worship enlivener Hymn Book along with Donaldson. A convocation ceremony earlier this month at U of T saw Donaldson presented with his honourary doctorate, an honour witnessed by a school bus load of members of the Trafalgar Presbyterian Church, his wife Wendy, daughter Hilary, and his parents, who still live in Timmins, where Donaldson grew up. Donaldson is the founder and artistic director of Hilariter, a group of instrumental and vocal musicians who play an eclectic mixture of styles from around the world, and his group was asked to perform during convocation. "It was nice to be able to show people what the music was like," he said. "We sang a planned hymn that was on the program, a song from Latin America." Donaldson was then presented with his degree and then something that wasn't included on the program broke out. "After that, I broke into an African song," he said, smiling. "Hilariter knew it was happening, so they were primed and ready, and our group from the church was ready, but no one else knew. We just broke into this song. "Pandemonium isn't quite the right word, but celebration broke out," he added, grinning. "People stood and sang. It was a spontaneous moment." This break from the traditional ceremony while maintaining the tradition is right in line with why Donaldson was recognized. "I was asked to bring musical change when I came to this church," said Donaldson, who came to Trafalgar Presbyterian after more than 20 years as pastoral musician at a Toronto church in The Beaches. "I also had to reassure people I wasn't throwing out the musical tradition here." Donaldson, who is in the church three days a week, including to teach music to G 's has been chose to operate in t Credit Valley Cancer Centre Two locations to serve Credit Valley Hospital New Main Lobby 2200 Eglinton Avenue West Mississauga, ON G BI'S WIGS Bathurst Street Toronto, ON 905.813.3845 416.787.3129 See Globalizing page 7 www.gabiswigs.com PLASMA TELEVISION PLASMA TELEVISION Deeper blacks and more natural colour tones all wrapped up in a thin, high-resolution flat panel screen - equally stunning on or off. With screen sizes similar to those at the movie theatre, the Panasonic Viera plasma provides a theatre-like experience at home. Change your perspective on television consider the exclusive Panasonic Viera plasma at Canadian Sound in downtown Oakville. Creating sensational smiles in Oakville for 15 years.