>> Tania Wegwitz
Music and the sounds of winter festivals from around the globe are cascading through the hallways of École George Jay Elementary this time of year.
Encouraged and led by teacher Annie Shum, the students are finding joy in weekly music classes. From younger students trying their hands at rhythm instruments and xylophones generously donated by Oak Bay Rotary, to older siblings on recorder and ukulele, kids of all ages are preparing for their annual winter concert.
Building on the school music program that has been growing since her arrival in 2012, Shum and her students have taken on an even larger musical project, the musical This Little Light—designer and playwright Erin Macklem’s adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl.
This month the George Jay choir is collaborating with The Belfry Theatre, community members, and student choirs from Central Middle and Victoria High Schools to help stage This Little Light, and will be showing at The Belfry from December 10-23.
Commissioned by The Belfry and featuring beautiful music by Brad L’Ecuyer and lyrics by both he and Macklem, this play promises to fill the heart of Fernwood “with gorgeous music at this family time of the year.”
For their part, over 40 George Jay students in grades three to five have been hard at work since September practicing for the show. To learn more and come see and hear this amazing community undertaking, head to www.belfry.bc.ca/this-little-light/.
