www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, January 15, 2015 | 24 Teen brings Suite Melody to Oakville hospital Leslie Ashworth looks to expand her music program across Ontario, Canada by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Health "Connected to your Community" Leslie Ashworth doesn't have to be told music is good for the soul. She sees it firsthand every month when she visits the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH), playing music for the patients in the rehabilitation ward. It's part of a program the 17-year-old created a little more than two years ago called Suite Melody Care, which recently received formal approval at the local hospital, allowing Ashworth to eventually expand it to other hospitals and include more musically-talented youths. "Music can reach deeply inside people. It brings people together from all ages and backgrounds, activates emotions, relieves symptoms and overall, gives patients something to focus on other than their health challenges," she told the Oakville Beaver. "Hearing and seeing how much the patients enjoyed the performances, I thought it would be wonderful to create a program so that other youths could do the same." In 2012, Ashworth began volunteering at OTMH to play while patients in the rehab ward worked on crafts. A testament to her musical talent, the patients began ignoring their crafts and focused on her playing. Ashworth was then invited by the hospital to come in just to play for the patients after they began asking for her. The Oakville teen has been playing the violin since she was four years old, the piano since age six and the viola since 12 -- but she admits the violin is her passion. Homeschooled, Ashworth is in Grade 12 and takes online learning courses offered through the Halton District School Board. She has completed her ARCT certification in piano, the highest level in the Royal Conservatory of Music exams -- receiving first-class honours -- and is currently working on her audition repertoire for the bachelor of music program at the RCM's Glenn Gould School. Her audition is in February. "I absolutely love music and I really enjoy bringing others happiness through it. It brings me great pleasure to take audiences on musical and emotional journeys because there are so many different emotions in music," said Ashworth. "I remember one patient... she said the music brought tears to her eyes because she was thinking of her mom and how she used to sing those songs with her mom. It was really special." And thus, Suite Melody Care was born. After taking Grade 11 Leadership and Grade 12 Entrepreneurship courses, Ashworth further developed the idea for her program by creating a 40-page venture plan, logo and website (www.ashworthproductions.wix.com/suitemelodycare). Every month, Ashworth chooses a theme, such as golden oldies, and selects a variety of musical pieces that reflect it. She plays 45 minutes of music interspersed with musical trivia she provides the audience between the numbers. see Ashworth on p.25 NEw YEAr Address your anti-aging and skin health concerns by scheduling a consultation with one of our team of experts. Excellence & Commitment to the latest practices in non-invasive cosmetic medical treatments. · Facial Injections (Botox® and Dermal Fillers) New You Leslie Ashworth established her Suite Melody Care program at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital's rehabilitation ward where she gives monthly performances for patients. | photo by Eric Riehl Oakville Beaver 2014 was my year...let 2015 be for YOU Weight loss that WORKS...results that LAST! Serving Oakville for over 10 years NO pills, NO gimmicks, NO starvation Eat real food Quick & Easy customized meal plans SPECIAL PROGRAMS · Fight FAT over 40 · Signature Metabolic Diet · Group training fitness for all levels I LOST 30 POUNDS! Call NOW to book your FREE consultation www.metaboliccareclinics.com 905-825-3800 · Thermage · Selphyl · Derma Roller · Clear & Brilliant · ZO Skin Health Fabio De Rango Pharmacist/Owner DIAMOND Voted Oakville's Favourite Pharmacist & Pharmacy Your best defense against the flu is the flu shot! Come and get your flu shot today. DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 478 Dundas Street West | 905-257-9737 Canada Post Medical Aesthetics DE RANGO PHARMACY INC 2501 Third Line | 905-465-3000 Open til Midnight | 7 Days a Week www.shoppersdrugmart.ca