NEW BEGINNINGS
June 27 - August 17, 2007
Another school year has come to a close at F.C.J. Secondary School. The glorious and much-anticipated musical exchange between the F.C.J. and the Mount Saint Charles Academy bands at the National Concert Hall is successful history, and all have bid a fond farewell to beloved Music Director, Gearóid Grant, who retired this month after 35 years of teaching music at F.C.J.
When school buses roll in September, there will be “new beginnings” --- a new academic year, a group of new band members and a new music director! At present, the Music Fund does not know who Mr. Grant’s successor will be, but one thing is for sure, there are big shoes to fill! Starting a band in rural Ireland without funding or music teachers was unusual; bringing the band to the point where it is today is remarkable! Gearóid set a high bar!
As a way of showing support to the incoming music director who will be experiencing “new beginnings” of his/her own, the Music Fund would like to provide funding for at least 3 music students who are in financial need (because there is no school funding, each student must pay a €250 music lesson fee to participate in the band program). Given the dollar/euro exchange, our fundraiser goal is a modest $1,000 with any overage going to a “fund for music fees” for use as needed in the future.
We do have some incentives for your donations. Unless you tell us otherwise, regardless of the donation amount, your name will automatically be entered in a drawing* for the following items:
1. An official Red Sox Team Shirt (Ortiz #34) and Ball Cap ensemble
Both signed by Anthony:
Shirt – “Here’s to the big one next year! Best Wishes, Anthony Kearns”
Cap – “Best Wishes Always, Anthony Kearns”
Donated by: Dianne Pierce
2. A beautifully framed, 8” X 10” Professional Photograph of Anthony Kearns
Signed by Anthony: “Thanks for all your support + generosity, Anthony Kearns”
Donated by: The Anthony Kearns Official Website;
photo by David Chance Photography;
framing by Karon’s Frame Shop
3. Original Poster from Anthony’s 1/28/07 Solo Concert in Dundalk, Ireland
This poster hung outside the An Táin at the Town Hall Dundalk. The Venue, Date,
Time and Ticket information was actually filled in by hand by Anthony.
Signed by Anthony: “Thanks for the support of the Music Fund, Anthony Kearns”
Donated by: The Anthony Kearns Music Fund
Donations should be sent to:
NEW BEGINNINGS
ANTHONY KEARNS MUSIC FUND
19100 SHAKER BOULEVARD
SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO 44122
USA
Please make checks payable to: ANTHONY KEARNS MUSIC FUND and indicate that your donation is for NEW BEGINNINGS.
Wishing you a summer of happy “new beginnings”,
Cilla Horst
Board of Directors, Anthony Kearns Music Fund
Barbara H. Gordon
Priscilla C. Horst
Eileen Martin
Edward A. Mearns, Jr.
Emily Tidball
* Due to IRS regulations, if you are included in the drawing, the amount of your donation that you will be able to deduct from your federal taxes for 2007 will be reduced by $175.00. We are therefore offering you the option to exclude yourself from the drawing in order to be able to deduct the full amount of your donation from your 2007 federal taxes. Should you wish to exclude yourself from the drawing, please include a note with your donation letting us know that you do not want to participate in the drawing.
WINNER - Lori Herter
WINNER - Pat Schore
WINNER - Patti Hagan
Summary Report :
Given the scarcity of Irish Tenors and Anthony (solo) concerts this past summer, I must admit that there were some concerns about this latest fundraiser --- would we reach our goal of $1,000? The various fan sites were so “quiet”, one wondered if any of the Music Fund postings were being read either on those sites or on the official Music Fund website! But given the final tally of $3,150, we need not have worried; clearly, the mission of the Music Fund has a momentum of its own! Of course, that momentum was sustained by the kindnesses of many Music Fund supporters and we thank you all --- Dianne Pierce for donating the Red Sox memorabilia for the drawing; David Chance Photography and Karon’s Frame Shop for donating the framed picture of Anthony for the drawing; Lori Herter and Berta Calechman for “talking up” the fundraiser on the fan sites; and Marie Collins, Lynnette Crouse and Gail Hebert for waving the Music Fund banner on their websites. We couldn’t have had such a successful fundraiser without you!
Congratulations are also in order for the prize drawing winners:
Patti Hagan – Dundalk Concert Poster – signed by Anthony
Lori Herter – Red Sox Baseball Shirt and Cap – signed by Anthony
Patricia Schore – Framed Photo of Anthony
The real winner of this fundraiser is the music program at F.C.J. Secondary School as it now has funds available to help financially needy band members pay their yearly participation music fees. Surely this will provide an emotional lift to the School’s new band director, Dale Hennessy, as he navigates “new beginnings”, in filling the void left by Gearóid Grant’s retirement last spring after serving as F.C.J.’s music director for 35 years.
According to early reports, Mr. Hennessy, from County Carlow, is doing a marvelous job in his new position. Band Manager Eileen Martin wrote, “Gearóid and Sister Madeleine (Principal) did a very fine job in choosing the new Music teacher. He’s a very hard working, musical, good humoured, down to earth person who loves kids and music and everything couldn’t have worked out better with the musical (fall production - ‘My Fair Lady’) , which was a very tall order for a new teacher.”
In closing, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all our donors who demonstrated that, even when there is a drought in the concert arena, there’s no shortage of generosity when it comes to supporting the Music Fund and its mission. You are all very special, indeed! I join the Board of Directors in saluting you with pride and saying a humble thank you.
Sincerely,
Priscilla C. Horst, Executive Director
Anthony Kearns Music Fund
