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| Miles and his buddy Sam at a Hawks game |
This week's featured family is the Willner family, and they represent the theme--Sunrise & Sunset because we have had a Willner child enrolled at Springdale Park every year since we opened, but now it is time for Miles, SPARK's last Willner, to go to middle school.
Allyson & Tom Willner have three wonderful, musical kids: Klara (SPARK 2009-2012), Elliot (2009-2015), and Miles (2014-2020). The first year SPARK was open we did not have 5th grade, so our Chorus and AC, Band, and Orchestra students (including Klara) began their ensemble study, in addition to Music class, as third graders.
Tom (click for his bio) is a cancer survior and musician who uses storytelling and music to teach about the patient experience through his musical "Turning Thirty". He also works in higher education technology. Before SPARK even opened Tom came by to offer to accompany our chorus concerts (!!!), and he was our regular accompanist until Klara went to middle school. While Allyson claims to not be a musician, you can hear a tiny bit of her singing in one of the flipgrid videos below. Allyson has been an amazing & strong advocate and shining light for me to be able to stay focused on the great work our students can accomplish! I'm so grateful!
Allyson and Tom have been stalwart supporters of SPARK for 11 years, and their commitment to keeping Music strong at SPARK rubbed off on their kids--Klara was in Chorus, AC, and Orchestra, Elliot was in Band and was a great Music student, and Miles participated in Band and AC, honor choruses, and special events. Miles performed in nearly every event we've had, online or offline over the past few years, and he even organized and performed a benefit concert at the Red Light Cafe to raise funds for our Music programs in 2018 (#MilesandFriends) and 2019 (#SPARKRocks2). Tom has reprised his role as accompanist during Miles's 4th and 5th grade years. All three Willner kids were active musicians at SPARK, and I hope they will each continue making music for their entire lives!
Klara in 3rd & 4th grade AC at the Governor's Mansion, December 2009
Hot Chocolate from the Polar Express
accompanied by Tom Willner
Christmas Time is Here from A Charlie Brown Christmas
accompanied by Tom Willner
Klara in AC "Oye" by Jim Papoulis Tom Willner and Willard Santos, Accompanists
In addition to being a saxophone player in Band, Elliot was a great Music student, earning second place in our Composer Project Festival that was judged by members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Elliot in Band May 2014 playing Tempest, Erin Moore director
How many 4th graders plan and perform a benefit concert for their school Music program?
Check out #MilesandFriends on Twitter for more videos from 2018
Fine Arts Night "
Back to School Bash with Aine "I Won't Give Up"
Tom's song at SPARKRocks2
SPARKRocks2 Out of My Head
Aine, Miles, Patrick (AMP) performing ICTTWAGBF
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