THE SILVER MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE AWARDS

For over 10 years now Barrie music teacher and

violinist Sherrie Powell, of The Powell Music Studio, has consistently seen her students win awards, Silver Medals of Excellence and scholarships from Conservatory Canada.

MUSICAL TALENTS REAP AWARDS
Article written by Linda Langman from the Barrie Advance Newspaper:

Barrie music teacher Sherrie Powell is proud of her students. Of the 11 Silver Medals for Excellence Awards given by the Conservatory of Canada in London in November 2005, five were given to Sherrie's students. Highest marks in their category were given as follows:
- In Grade 2 violin, Natasha Bangay, 10, plus a $300.00 scholarship, one of two scholarships given nationwide.
- In Grade 1 violin, Lauren Brownlee, 11.
- In Grade 1 cello, Jon Northcott, 13.
- In Grade 4 violin, Peter Park, 10
- In Grade 2 cello, John Park, 8
The Park brothers were in Korea and could not attend the ceremony.

      Powell has been teaching music most of her life. She began learning the violin at age 7 and by age 15 her teacher was letting her instruct others. By 16, she was officially teaching violin. She has taught in Toronto, Orillia and Barrie, privately and in schools.

      Powell enjoys working with the children, motivating them, and encouraging them. "I inspire in them a love for music."   "I get a lot of joy seeing them progress. All the kids work hard on their instruments and their families support them."   It surprises her how resilient the kids are, how they continue to work, practice, and not give up. Most of her students can now sight-read anything. "I love these kids," she says. The feeling is mutual. The kids come banging into lessons wearing a big smile, when they hear the announcement, "Next victim please."

      Currently Powell has over 40 students, eight of them adults. Along with lessons she put together an orchestra of about 25 people from age 9 to adult who meet weekly and perform three concerts annually, usually as a fundraiser. They have supported Youth Haven, the Food Bank, and an African orphanage. Powell also runs a music camp in the summer.

CELEBRATIONS

Reprinted from THE BARRIE EXAMINER, Saturday, January 14, 2006

Barrie music students struck the right note with Conservatory Canada winning 6 out of 11 Strings Music awards given nationally in 2005 for graded violin, viola and cello examinations. Natasha Bangay received the Neil King scholarship ($300) and a medal for excellence on the violin. The other medal winners were Lauren Brownlee and Peter Park for violin, Jon Northcott and John Park for cello. All five are students of local music teacher Sherrie Powell.