Did you know there was a Carleton Place and Beckwith Music Society? Even as a professional bathroom singer I had to admit I had no idea.
In the summer of 2013, several piano teachers discussed their vision of establishing a music festival that would highlight some of the talent in our community and inevitably encourage and develop the skills of piano students in the area. The music teachers in the region were very supportive of this idea and in September 2013 the first meeting regarding this endeavour was held.
It was decided that a Festival could just be the beginning of many musical projects that potentially would enrich the arts and cultural scene in Carleton Pace and the surrounding areas. As a result of this discussion the Carleton Place Music Festival was created.
Joy Hodgkinson is President of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Music Society. Growing up in Winnipeg, she began music lessons at the age of 5 years, with Grace Rich, a well respected teacher. Joy saw her life in terms of music and participated regularly in the Winnipeg Kiwanis Music Festival, many Music Clubs; high school choirs and musicals under the direction of Herbert Belyea. After completing RCM grade 10 at the age of 17 she studied with Ronald Gibson at the University of Manitoba and sang in the Dept. Of Music Choir.
After she married, she relocated to Perth, Western Australia, where she continued to study and teach, and accompany. She also even had time to prepare students for exams. When she returned to Canada she moved to Beckwith via Winnipeg after her husband got a job with the Federal government. Joy then decided to complete a Teacher’s ARCT, and become a professional piano teacher.
Since then she has been fortunate to have been guided and taught by wonderful teachers such as Edith Orton, Irene Woodburn-Wright, and Bertha Bower. She also joined the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Assoc. where she has served on the board twice, at the local level.
The music virtuoso continues to participate in workshops and attend masterclasses. She has also acted as a music selector for the Rotary Renfrew Music Festival, and is adjudicator, clinician and author of the PianoJoy Lesson books for young beginners.
Music always continues to speak in life and Joy is currently the President of the Laurentian Junior Music Club, board member of the Almonte Music Club, and President of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Music Society.
In May 2014 the Carleton Place and Beckwith Music Society held their first annual music festival. It attracted thirty three pianists who entered a total of 88 classes and the top performers gave a public concert after the festival. The Society wants to turn up the volume and make the community more aware that they exist. They hope you will attend their upcoming 2nd Annual Piano Festival May 4,5,6, at the Town Hall. Remember, those will be the nights where music becomes your best friend. Because without music life is a mistake.
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