b'Dont Miss It!With A Little Help From Our Friends Fundraising ConcertIrwin SmithShirley Constable Whitney Ross-Barrisphoto courtesy of Jonathan van BilsenRetired Port Perry High School music teacher Rory Snider- Rory described this building as having the best acoustics in McGrath is excited to be organizing his first concert since thetown.pandemic. With A Little Help From Our Friends is planned forTickets are $20 per person, cash only, and will be sold in Friday May 5 at 7 p.m. Port Perry at Meta4 Gallery, 200 Queen St., and Herringtons In the past, Rory has put on five well-attended local fund- Quality Butchers, 251 Queen St., and at the door.raising concerts. The name With A Little Help From Our Friends is appro-All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the musicpriate because the concert features musical friends who are department of Port Perry High School and the Oak Ridgescoming together to put on a spectacular show, Rory explained. Hospice. Plus, all proceeds go to help the community.Theres a great lineup of talent, Rory said, adding thatThe reason that Rory joined Facebook was to connect with the upcoming show promises to appeal to people of variedformer music students to find performers, and keep in touch musical tastes.with graduates to learn what they are doing with their lives Talented former PPHS students of Rorys, classical clarinet- and if they are still playing music. Rory himself is well known ist Shirley Constable, and jazz vocalist Whitney Ross Barris,for his aptitude for the tuba and trumpet.willbothperform.WhitneywillbeaccompaniedbybassEven after his retirement in 2015, Rory has continued to playerDougMatthews(whoRorytaughtatanelemen- stage fundraisers for the PPHS music department. As well as tary school in Whitby) and Rob Bulger (a guitar teacher atconcerts, he organizes holiday craft shows. Mark your calen-Humber College.) Local crowd pleaser Irwin Smith will alsodars for the next one, Saturday November 25.entertain. A resident of Port Perry, Rorys 34-year career included 19 The Master of Ceremonies for this musical extravaganzayears in the music department at the local high school, which is another PPHS alumni, Graeme Powell. Back in the day, hehe feels is important to support.played piano in the high school jazz band. In more recent his- Rory explained that the donation to the music department tory, Graeme has appeared in many theatrical productions atcould be used for hiring professional musicians to run clinics the Town Hall Theatre in Port Perry. for the students, to repair or replace instruments, or to buy The concert venue will be the Port Perry United Church,new music for the bands and choirs. 294 Queen Street, which is offering the space free of charge.Please turn to page 16FOCUS - APRIL 202315'