NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH YOUTH MUSIC CENTRE
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The Guelph Youth Music Centre is pleased to announce that Sue Smith has been named to the Centre's Wall of Fame. The Wall of Fame exists to honour individuals with links to the Guelph area whose activities have added significantly to the arts experience of young people in the community.
Artist. Teacher. Creative catalyst. Sue Smith has generously parlayed her love of music and her creative spirit into teaching and empowering young people in Guelph for three decades.
Sue shares her deeply held conviction, “If you have imagination (and we all do), you can play and create, whatever your chosen form of expression. And expression begins with discovery.”
Hundreds of students have begun their musical journeys of discovery in Sue's piano and singing studios and through her two popular musical youth initiatives:
The Season Singers started as a neighbourhood choir in the late 1990s. It evolved into a collaborative performing arts troupe for children aged seven to twelve with a mentorship program for teenagers.
As artistic director, Sue has written or co-written and produced fourteen original stage performances and nine original musicals. Along with incubating creative talent, The Season Singers has helped a generation of young Guelphites develop friendships and build community through the performance arts.
Sonic Playground was an interactive musical adventure for children using instruments made from everyday items. From 2004 to 2012, Sue brought the program to elementary schools and festivals across Ontario encouraging hundreds of children to make music, often for the first time.
Sue is also a solo artist and creative collaborator. She is Co-Artistic Director of Ondine Chorus, Co-producer of Spring Awakes! and a member of the Ravenstring Collective. She was part of the internationally acclaimed vocal trio, The Bird Sisters, and one of the founders of Guelph’s renowned Hillside Festival.
Sue Smith is a culture builder. She continues to make a valuable contribution to learning, skill-building, and artistic expression in Guelph. Our community is richer for her work.
The Wall of Fame Award will be presented to Sue Smith at the Guelph Youth Music Centre on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 at 2 p.m. The presentation and concert, "A Sunday Afternoon Salon", with Sue Smith and guests, will be followed by a reception.
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