The Soo Sings for Kids seeks vocal and dance mentors

NEWS RELEASE

THE SOO SINGS
FOR KIDS

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The Soo Sings for Kids: A workplace glee competition is seeking vocal and dance mentors

Everyday employees are transformed into stage performers.

The first annual event held in May of last year raised $9,000 for five local children charities.

The five workplaces from last year are back, and ready to sing and dance for children’s charities: Algoma Public Health team Encore, City of Sault Ste Marie team Collective Voices, The Children’s Aid Society Rock Society, Children’s Rehabilitation Centre Algoma Team Ignite, and Huron Superior District Catholic School Board Summer Fever.

When: May 15, 2014

Where: Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre

We would like to welcome the following workplaces who have just signed up!

The Innovation Centre who will be joining up with the City of Sault Ste Marie team, Algoma District School Board/ Grandview Elementary School, and Arthur Funeral Home.

Last year, 10 local talented performers mentored the five workplace teams.  

The mentors reported having a unique, inspiring, and fun time last year!

Tracey Hilderley shared her thoughts on being a mentor for the staff at CAS: "What a unique and rewarding experience! Watching the performers develop from willing but somewhat apprehensive… to greatly enthusiastic and more confident!”

Vocal mentors included Sue Roy, Tracey Hilderley, Lesley Walsh-Tibben, Christina Coutu, and Stephen Patterson.

Dance mentors were Kaitlin Schmiedendorf, Tania Castellani-Greco, Jennifer Avery Hutton, Skye Stewart and Andrew Stuetz.

More mentors will be needed his year, and Christina Coutu has taken on the role of recruiting mentors.

If you are interested in providing 16 hours of your time to mentor a workplace team, please email Christina at [email protected]

Congratulations team Ignite from the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre and their mentors Syke Stewart and Stephen Patterson for taking home the top prize last year with their performance of Firework!

The charities last year were The Soup Kitchen Brighter Beginnings Program, The Sault Ste Marie Chapter of Autism Ontario, CAS Youth in Care Education Assistance Fund, Children’s Rehabilitation Centre, and The Local Down Syndrome Society.

A larger venue this year means more ticket sales, with all the proceeds from tickets sales going to the local charities.

Increased production costs for the larger venue- theatre setting will be an extra expense this year.

The committee plans to garner corporate sponsorship to cover these production costs.

The committee wants to avoid using funds from the ticket sales to pay for production expenses, meaning more funds for local children.

Penny Gribbon from the City of Sault Ste Marie team, and Maria Burgess from Huron Superior Catholic District School Board team both shared that in their extensive experience with community theatre, the feelings evoked while preparing and performing in this event were unmatched and very special.

The host, Timothy Murphy, played an important role, keeping the feeling alive during the performance night.

Timothy Murphy will be the host again this year, and Valerie Pluss will lead the stage crew.

Local celebrity judges enhanced  the show last year with their unique personalities; Anthony Aceti, music teacher at Superior Heights, well known for his musical talents in local theatre; and Lou-Anne Young a local radio personality with Kiss 100.5.

A Toronto based multitalented performer Mark Cassius rounded out the judge’s panel.  

The Soo Sings for Kids committee is amazed by the extensive volunteer hours contributed by professionals like Valerie and Timothy, the judges, mentors, and all the performers!

The committee is also pleased to announce the launch of our website www.soosingsforkids.com

The Soo Sings for Kids promises to be an even bigger and better show this year!

For more information contact the committee co-chairs

Sharon Vanderburg
[email protected]
Phone/text 705-254-9321
705-949-8651

Helena Huopalainen
Helena [email protected]
705-759-0691

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