Handbell group founder to receive Joan Mantle award

The recently-retired director of the Kampana Handbells will be presented with the inaugural Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award at the International Dinner in support of the trust April 5.

Sylvia Carscadden founded the handbell group back in 1975.

However, the 77-year-old announced in December she's disbanding the group for a number of reasons, including including the fact that she's selling her remote Kantola Road home, where practices have always taken place, and that some group members want to retire from the ensemble.

Over the years, the Kampana Handbells have been guest performers at many concerts in the Sudbury area, including the Bel Canto Chorus, Sudbury Chamber Singers, Heart & Soul Singers, Bell Park Gazebo series, Market Square Festival of Trees, and other city-based events. They have played at school concerts, fundraisers, dinners and meetings.

As director of the group, as in the rest of her life, Sylvia was generous with her time, her spirit, and her resources. Her passion for music meant that she had high standards for her ringers.

Her flexible, inclusive and supportive approach inspired the ringers to always do their best so they could hear Sylvia say, “Oh, that was so good. I’m so proud of you.”

With her passion for nurturing musical ability in young people, Sylvia Carscadden made a point of inviting young musicians to perform as guests at Kampana concerts, including the Chime Choir from Copper Cliff Public School, which was founded by a former Kampana ringer. Children were always admitted free of charge and were encouraged to ring the bells and chimes after the concert.

“Sylvia Carscadden shares Joan Mantle’s passion for music education for all ages, which makes her an ideal recipient for this award,” said Ralph McIntosh, chair of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee, in a press release.

“She has had a positive impact on music in the community, promotes lifelong music education, and has served as an inspiration to others through her musical contributions and accomplishments.”

The Joan Mantle Music Trust was established in the fall of 2008 to help refresh, modernize and revitalize school music programs in the Rainbow District School Board.

The trust allocates funding for musical instruments and equipment to selected schools on a rotating basis.

The trust also accepts the donation of new and used musical instruments and allocates them to schools in need. This ensures that there is an ongoing improvement in the condition of musical equipment throughout the board, allowing for students to achieve more in their musical studies together.

The third International Dinner and Silent Auction in support of the Joan Mantle Music Trust is being held April 5 at 6 pm at the ParkSide Older Adult Centre.

The menu will feature a wide variety of foods including dishes from Mexico, Greece, the Ukraine, Italy, Thailand, India, Germany and Finland. Musical entertainment will showcase talented students from Rainbow Schools.

Tickets to the event, which cost $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight, can can be purchased at the Sudbury Theatre Centre, 170 Shaughnessy Street, 705-674-8381.

Tickets are also available at area Rainbow secondary schools or by contacting Ralph McIntosh at 705-674-7551, ext. 6850, email [email protected].