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PAGE 6 TERRACE BAY NEWS AUGUST 10, 1972 TERRACE BAY TO FEEL ONTARIO'S MUSICAL PULSE "I never thought 1'd get into anything the govern- ment was responsible for." ... but. When music is an important part of your life the opportunity to get totally involved in it is hard to pass up. For 17 year old Lesli Thompson, of 85 Hudson Drive, the opportunity was Summersounds '72. ~ After five letters to the Ontario government, Lesli's determination paid off and she received appli- cations to audition in Thunder Bay. "I didn't even know what an audition was". she said. Lesli, who works at the Dorion Bible Camp, sings with choirs whenever she can. She auditioned with a couple of hymns accompanying herself on guitar and piano. Now Lesli is in a group of 33 musicians, aged 15 to 22, sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. She is on a six-week tour of communities across Ontario from Kenora to Ottawa. Other members of the group are from Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Peterborough, Windsor, Toronto, Ottawa, Woodstock, London, Galt, Hamilton, Kitchener, Sudbury, Midland, Erin, North Bay and Hull and Kirks Ferry, Quebec. Another group was also chosen from the 500 across the province who auditioned and will follow a separ- ate tour. Walter Cavalieri, who conducted the auditions and is co-ordinator of Summersounds, said, "Despite the relative isolation of the home communities of some of the performers, there was no disparity in the talent". Mr. Cavalieri was formerly artistic director and stage manager for the Toronto production of "Hair". "The only reason | came out was for the experience' said Lesli. "This is my last chance to learn till next summer". She is being exposed to new musical ideas by Bruce Pennycook, the musical director, who said, "It is first and foremost a learning experience for everyone here". Lesli sings and plays guitar and organ in the show. The music performed is chosen by common consent of the people involved. "Included is some original mater ial written and arranged by the performers themselves. The music is folk, pop, rock and jazz - all coloured by the varied musical backgrounds of the performers. "When | was little my mother just shoved me in." said Lesli of her start in music. She has studied piano for seven years but has had to go to Schreiber for lessons. Prior to the tour the group rehearsed for three weeks at Niagara Christian College in Fort Erie. Lesli travelled down with Rod Larson from Nipigon but knew no-one else in the group at the time. "I really like it" said Lesli. "They're interested in each other as people - they're not competing but learning". "Everybody is together because there is always music". i Lesli went to Lake Superior Secondary School during the school year and returns Thursday, August 10th, ! to perform there with Summerounds. The concert is at 8:00 p.m. and "is amateur in name only" according to Mr. Pennycook. "lt's not slick' but it's high : quality." Now Terrace Bay has the opportunity to see and hear what some of the best young musicians in the province can do when they get together. "No one number will please all the people," said Mr. Penny- cook, "but the show in total is for everybody". Lesli rehearses with Rod Brown (Thunder Bay) for Summersounds '72. Photo by Andre Benetean. Lesli is pictured here rehearsing with Terry Van Zandt from Hull, P.Q.