LJYO in the News
May 3, 2009
Laverdure and Davison are first winners of Boddington Memorial Award
Bethany Laverdure and Lindsay Davison have been chosen as the first winners of the annual Bill
Boddington/Classical 96.3 and 103.1 FM Memorial Award.
The award was created to assist graduating members of La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra
(LJYO) who are going on to university studies in music. The late Bill Boddington was an avid fan of the
arts, and was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of LJYO. After his death in 2008, the memorial award
was established in his name by friends, family, and Classical 96.3 and 103.1 FM, the radio station where
he worked.
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George Boddington and Barbara Selkirk, brother and sister of the late Bill Boddington, present the
first annual Bill Boddington/Classical 96.3 and 103.1 Memorial Award to Bethany Laverdure and Lindsay
Davison. Photo by Selena Forsyth |
Music has been an essential part of her life since the age of three. Diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of six months, Bethany spent most of her first seven years in hospital. A small portable keyboard was her favourite possession. The year after a bone marrow transplant was a very trying time: “Only being able to listen to music was tough, because my keyboard couldn’t be scrubbed into my isolation room during my transplant. I remember asking when I could go home, mainly because I missed my lessons.”
Bethany only started playing violin in high school, studying first at Clarke High School and then with Laurie Mitchell, who directs the LJYO string section. She joined the Orchestra in September, 2008.
Bethany’s long battle with leukaemia had an impact on her growth; she grew to only 4’7”. But she says “When I rehearse, I am not judged on my size, my disabilities, or my previous illness. People around me hear the songs I love to play, not what my life’s tribulations have brought.”
Lindsay Davison of Cobourg says “I’ve always had an interest in music, even as a small child, but it wasn’t until my first orchestral experience with LJYO that I became aware of how interesting music actually could be. “ Over the past four years, she has not only played with LJYO, but also with Kawartha Youth Orchestra, Niagara Youth Orchestra, and most recently the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Lindsay’s instrument is the bassoon, a highly demanding instrument for which there are few teachers in private practice. She has studied for several years with Benson Bell of Lakefield. He not only teaches bassoon performance, but he also makes bassoons. Lindsay says “Ben taught me the mechanics and the technical side of the bassoon. It is very important to know how the instrument works and it plays a major role in perfecting playing skills and technique.”
Lindsay went on to further studies with Fraser Jackson, who plays contrabassoon with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Lindsay has been accepted to the McGill Schulich School of Music for music performance, majoring in bassoon. She hopes to move into a career as an orchestral musician after university.