Music educator to be honoured at gala this weekend

Longtime educator and musical performer Peter Schneider has been selected as this year’s (posthumous) recipient of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award.

The award will be presented at the International Dinner and Silent Auction in support of the trust March 28.

Schneider passed away Sept. 10, 2014, leaving a lasting legacy for music and music education.

“Throughout Peter Schneider’s life, he exemplified everything the Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award stands for,” said Ralph McIntosh, Chair of the Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee, in a press release.

“His passion for melody and music education was remarkable. Whether performing or teaching, his love of music resonated with audiences of all ages, making him the ideal recipient for this year’s award.”

At the age of six, Schneider’s mother bought him a violin, a gift that would ignite his lifelong passion for music. From that moment, it was evident that he would go on to devote much of his life to sharing that passion with others, including as a longtime music educator with the former Sudbury Board of Education.

The international dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the ParkSide Older Adult Centre. All proceeds will go towards the purchase of new instruments in Rainbow Schools through the Joan Mantle Music Trust.

The menu will feature a wide variety of foods, including dishes from Italy, Finland, Greece, India, France and Mexico. Musical entertainment will showcase talented students from Rainbow secondary schools.

Tickets cost $50 per person (with a $30 tax receipt provided upon request) and tables of eight are $400 (with a $240 tax receipt provided upon request).

They're available at the Sudbury Theatre Centre by phoning 705-674-8381, at area Rainbow secondary schools or by contacting Ralph McIntosh at 705-674-7551, ext. 6850, email [email protected].