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| CONTACT
Steven
Capaldo
Music Education:
capaldo@uvic.ca
Catharine
McLeod
External Relations:
cmcleod@uvic.ca
Don
Bergland
Art Education:
bergland@uvic.ca
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| Below
are some thank you notes to Don Wright from past recipients
of the scholarships he established. These alumni were
thrilled at the opportunity to write about how Don's
gift transformed their lives. We were also delighted
that a few of these people were able to join us for
a dinner with Don in celebration of the Naming Ceremony.
(All notes have been posted with the authors' permission). |
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| Letter
from David Brown |
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Dear
Dr. Wright,
Although we have never met, you have played a
meaningful and enduring role in my career and
in the life of my family. During several years
in the 80s, you helped me complete my studies
and pay the rent. Thank you. Arguably, my present
circumstances may not have evolved into what they
are today without your assistance. You may not
know me, but I will never forget you.
I am in my sixteenth year of teaching. Currently,
S.D. 69 is my home, in the Qualicum Beach area.
Despite the fact that music programs have fallen
victim to fiscal restraints, our district has
remained faithfully supportive of music in the
schools. As an educator, yourself, this should
come as encouraging news.
My daughter graduates from secondary school this
year. Her commencement ceremony is on the same
day as your naming ceremony. Thus, I cannot attend
the event in Victoria. Curiously, there is a connection
between the two events. Chelsea was born during
my UVic days. She is a musician, and I am certain
she would enjoy thanking you herself for your
generosity.
In conclusion, your gifts have been appreciated
in the past, and they will continue to be will
be honoured in the future. Best wishes on your
special day.
Sincerely,
David Brown
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 1987) |
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| Letter
from Jennifer Smith |
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| June
24, 2004
Dear Dr. Wright,
Thank you very much for your financial support
over the past year. Receiving your scholarship
took financial pressure off myself, and my family.
Because of your support, it was easier to focus
my efforts on academics, my role as the president
of the University of Victoria Student Music
Educators' Association, and my position as concert
mistress of the UVic Wind Symphony. I am currently
spending my summer in the United Kingdom on
a student work abroad program, and am very sorry
that I will miss the opportunity to meet you.
Thank you very much for your generosity. I am
sure that the great music education program
at the University of Victoria is going to become
an even better learning environment because
of your support.Sincerely,
Jennifer Smith
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 2003)
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| Letter
from Beverley Knight |
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June
24, 2004
I
received the Don Wright Scholarship in Music
Education in 1995. It was a great boost towards
paying for my tuition, while pursuing a Bachelor
of Music at UVic.
Since graduation, I have been teaching piano
in my private studio to dozens of children,
and really being amazed at how passing along
a love for music can enrich so many parts of
their lives. I've watched confidence levels
improve, and have heard from parents how music
lessons have improved their child's scholastic
work as well. I think particularly of one special
needs child I have taught for years, who was
told she'd never be able to do anything like
piano, and who has successfully performed at
recitals for many years in a row. It's given
her a chance to be like "all the other
kids".
I really feel like I have the greatest job in
the world - sharing a love of
music with children and their families. I even
have "grand-students" now, as several
of my students have taken on students of their
own!
The excellent musical training I received at
UVic prepared me to go down this path. I love
what I do! Thank you, Don Wright, for helping
me achieve my goals!
All the best,
Beverley Knight |
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| Letter
from Erin Bodnar |
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| June
20, 2004
To
whom it may concern,
I hope I am not too late with this note of appreciation
as the ceremony is
coming up soon!
Having finished my five year Music Education program
in May, I have already
found a job for September and I have even started
substitute teaching. My
final practicum was an amazing experience. I learned
so much from my sponsor
teachers and the students I worked with. After
five interviews in Alberta
(yes, there are music teaching jobs out there!),
I found the job that was the
perfect fit for me and I for it. I will be teaching
band, math, and science
at St. Francis of Assisi Middle School in Red
Deer, Alberta next year. I am
very excited to be teaching in this new school
and I have already been in to
meet my future students.
My love of teaching music grows every day. I have
been teaching grade 5 band
which I enjoy more than I thought I would! I feel
so lucky to be involved in
such a great profession. It is because of people
like Dr. Don Wright that
this profession is still alive today. It is because
they know what a
wonderful experience music education is for all
involved; students, parents,
teachers.
I thank Dr. Don Wright for his continuing support
for our
profession. Specifically, I appreciate Dr. Don
Wright's support for music
education at UVic. The music education program
at UVic is world class in my
opinion because of the professors and Dr. Don
Wright's contributions will
allow it to reach new heights.
Sincerely,
Erin Bodnar
B.Ed., Music Education, University of Victoria
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 2001)
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| Letter
from Ethen Shoemaker |
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Dear
Mr. Wright,
I would first like to extend my deepest gratitude
for your generous contribution to the music education
department at the University of Victoria. I know
and trust that this donation will be used extremely
wisely to aid in the ongoing improvement to the
program that our beloved faculty and students
strive to promote. Also, I would like to that
you personally as I was the recipient of your
scholarship for a Secondary Instrument student,
in 2002.
Since receiving your gracious award in 2002, I
have worked hard to complete my Bachelor of Music
degree, focusing in Secondary Music Education,
and successfully graduated in 2003 with distinction!
After my completion of this portion of my program,
I continued on and completed my professional year
of studies and my final student teaching practicum
in 2004. Since the conclusion of my final student
teaching practicum at the end of April of this
year, I have been regularly substituting in my
home town of Nanaimo. A regular position of mine
since the middle of May has been teaching music
at the elementary level. A well respected music
educator within the Nanaimo school district had
to leave her position due to medical reasons in
February and no other substitutes were able to
successfully fill the position for any longer
than a couple of weeks. Shortly after my practicum
was completed I was approached to fill her shoes
until the end of this school year. At the time
of this letter, I have been working in that position
for almost a month and I love every minute of
it. Being trained with a Secondary focus, I found
this appointment a challenge but one that I have
been able to learn a great amount from. Even though
I know that you never stop learning, I now feel
one step closer to becoming a fully versed music
education specialist in all areas and grade levels
of music education. At the current time I am also
searching for full time employment within British
Columbia for the upcoming school year. Keep your
fingers crossed for me!
One point that is important to make about my success
in both my studies and my career and receiving
your award, is that they are very much related.
Being presented with your award in 2002 was the
first time that I had been awarded a major honor
within my field of study. Receiving an accolade
like this helped to solidify in my mind that I
was definitely making progress in achieving my
goal of being the best educator that I could be
and has helped me to have the clarity of mind
to keep a positive attitude during trying times.
I know keeping this positive attitude towards
my life, career, and future studies will inevitably
aid me in further success and happiness.
In closing, I know the inspiration I felt upon
receiving your award; with this grand donation
of yours on this occasion, I am sure others will
feel just as inspired and believed in, thus creating
an exciting atmosphere for future growth, prosperity,
and greatness from the University of Victoria
Music Education Department!
Sincerely,
Ethan Shoemaker
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 2002) |
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| Letter
from Gwendolyn Beach |
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June
27, 2004
Dear
Mr. Wright
I am delighted to hear about your generous contribution
to the Faculty of Education, and I would like
to thank you again for the scholarship I received
during my education studies at U-Vic.
Since graduating from U-Vic I have enjoyed a
rich and diverse career in music education.
I have been employed by the North Okanagan/
Shuswap School District #83 in Salmon Arm for
the past ten years and have had the opportunity
to teach both secondary and elementary music
throughout this district. I am currently teaching
K-6 general music and Band 7 at Bastion Elementary
in Salmon Arm. During the past ten years I have
taught a wide range of subjects including secondary
concert band, jazz band, choir, English, math,
learning resources, computer software applications,
guitar and elementary general music.
I am proud to say that I work for a school district
that supports and believes in music education.
I understand that School District #83 is one
of only a few school districts left in British
Columbia that delivers music education to every
child in grades K-7 through a music specialist.
While our School Board has been in the unenviable
position recently, due to declining enrollment
and reduced funding, of closing schools and
trimming services in all areas, our Trustees
along with Superintendent, Doug Pearson, and
our Music Coordinator, Gordon Waters, have worked
hard to preserve our music programs.
I am looking forward to continuing my work here
in the Shuswap and my hope for the future is
that we can work towards restoring music programs
throughout British Columbia, and the training
of competent young teachers has a vital role
to play towards that end. Once again thank you
for your on-going support of music education
- we need it.
With deep appreciation,
Gwendolyn Beach
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 1991) |
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| Letter
from Jackie Herman |
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Dear
Dr. Wright:
You are an inspiration to all music educators!
I too have been blessed with music as a major
part of my life from a very young age. The accordion,
organ, piano, voice and even harmonica were constant
friends while I was growing up. While travelling
across Saskatchewan as a family or simply going
on a Sunday drive, my mother introduced me to
the joy of singing. My father would be in the
driver’s seat while his girls (my three
older sisters, myself and my mother) sang the
old favorites in four-part harmony. My father
passed away this last June. While driving in a
limousine to the funeral service, my mother, three-older
sisters and I sang for my father one last time.
My parents supported my love of music profoundly.
I started singing lessons at the age of 11 and
performed all kinds of music at many different
venues as often as possible. I attended the Banff
School of Fine Arts and performed various roles
with the Pacific Opera Company. I currently hold
a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance (1984)
and a Teaching Certificate (1991) from UVic. My
love affair with music is still with me today.
My husband and I moved to the Nicola Valley in
1991. Since that time I have worked as a music
specialist and general classroom teacher at a
rural school fed by a small subdivision, farmland
and three First Nations reservations. I teach
Grade 1 through Grade 6 music and am passionate
about sharing my love of music with the children
and their families. When I asked my Grade 2 students
why people make music, they inspired me by saying:
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To
tell stories |
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Some
people need music to feel better |
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Music
can change your mood |
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To
entertain the crowd |
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Because
it’s fun |
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Music
is joyful and there needs to be different
kinds of music because people like different
types of music |
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Music
makes you feel free |
My own music education continues as well. I am
currently working towards my Associate Diploma
in Piano (Conservatory Canada) with a wonderfully
passionate teacher residing in Kamloops, Marilyn
Wiwcharuk. She and I will also be joining forces
to give a recital (she on piano, myself singing).
My husband is finishing his Master’s in
Education (Counselling) this summer from UVic
and therefore, when he completes, I hope to work
towards obtaining my Levels I - III teaching certification
in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy.
As a former recipient of your scholarship, I cannot
tell you how much your support meant to me. I
attended the music education program at UVic as
a single mom. Life was very much a juggling act
for me at that time. Your financial gift made
it possible for me to toss a few less balls at
a time.
Thank you so much for your incredible support
of music education both in Canada and at UVic!
Your passion for music and your financial generosity
inspires music educators to continue sharing their
love of music.
In great appreciation,
Jackie Herman (formerly Jackie Melvin)
(Don Wright Scholarship recipient - 1990)
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