School able to purchase a vibraphone
Cumberland City Councillor and amateur arts champion Stephen Blais has donated $4000 to Gisèle-Lalonde High School to advance their arts and musical talent class. This donation has enabled the school to purchase a vibraphone for its students.
“A successful and flourishing arts program is one of the greatest treasures we can give to children”, stated Councillor Blais. “I am pleased to help another school contribute to the rich and diverse arts community in Orléans.”
The Vibraphone, similar in shape to a xylophone, was invented in about 1920 and became common in dance bands and as a prominent jazz instrument. In essence, a vibraphone is an electronic musical instrument which has metal bars that you hit with small wooden hammers to play notes and which has a motor that makes the notes vibrate.
“The Music Program of École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde appreciates the generous donation from Councillor Blais that helped the band room purchase a vibraphone,” stated Nicolas Julien, music teacher at Gisèle-Lalonde. “Every student and teacher will greatly benefit from an important percussion instrument that is an essential part of advanced musical ensembles like the ones in our school.”
This donation follows several thousand dollars Councillor Blais has raised for the Orléans amateur arts community, including helping fundraising efforts for Sir Wilfred Laurier arts students to travel and perform in Scotland, donating to local dance school Studio 360 for recital costumes and equipment, and to the St. Peter’s High School Show Choir “Treble Threat” that helped 29 students travel to Orlando, Florida to sing as part of the Candlelight Processional at Disney World in 2014.
“Contributing in any way I can to our local amateur arts community has always been a priority for me,” added Councillor Blais. “Donations such as mine and others help advance and peak the interests of individuals who can master their unrealized talents.”
The funds were raised by private donors through the annual Action Orléans Golf Classic and donated on behalf of Action Orléans – a not for profit club that has been helping arts, sports, and other groups throughout Ottawa.