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Memorial concert remembers 'happy-go-lucky' young man

It was a tragic time for the city — two other teens also died as a result of the collision that killed Melville, and a separate collision on Hwy. 69 near Parry Sound resulted in the deaths of four more teens.
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Laurentian University music student Keegan Melville was killed in a January 2012 car crash. His bandmates are fundraising for a bursary in his name. Supplied photo.
It was a tragic time for the city — two other teens also died as a result of the collision that killed Melville, and a separate collision on Hwy. 69 near Parry Sound resulted in the deaths of four more teens.

Many of the victims in both car crashes had connections to Sudbury.

Walsh, the director of the Laurentian University Jazz Combo, said Melville's death was difficult for the group.

Although the Ottawa Valley-area native had only spent a semester at Laurentian, many students had become close to him.

“It was very, very hard,” Walsh said. “The first rehearsal we had, I brought in a candle, and we lit the candle, and we just reminisced about what a great guy he was.”

Melville was an incredibly talented bass player, and had already held his own recital, an achievement that's rare for a first-year student, Walsh said. “He was that organized and that good,” he said.

Walsh said he remembers the joy Melville seemed to experience as he played. When he played a solo, he'd be bouncing around, “almost like dancing when he was playing,” he said.

In memory of the young man, the Laurentian University Jazz Combo and the Laurentian University Chamber Choir are teaming up March 20 for the second annual Keegan Melville Scholarship Concert.

Walsh explains that the ensembles are trying to bring the scholarship fund up to $5,000 so the university can start presenting it to a first-year music student. He said he expects it will take more than this concert to meet the threshold.

He said it's going to be a “great concert,” with the jazz combo playing a lot of “funky” and “bluesy” jazz, and the chamber choir showing off their classical chamber repertoire.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. March 20 at St. Andrew's Place. Tickets, which cost $20 for adults and $10 for students, are available at the door.

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Heidi Ulrichsen

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