NL_122018

14 | December 20, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot LIFE & ARTS
newlenoxpatriot.com
Local All About Music students
perform at NAWS benefit
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Analisa Trofimuk
Freelance Reporter
All About Music students
celebrated the happiest season
of all during its annual
“Caroling for Critters” recital
Dec. 8, at St. John’s
United Church of Christ in
Mokena. This year the event
was to benefit the local nokill
animal shelter NAWS.
NAWS volunteers opened
each of the three recitals
showcasing three of its
adoptable dogs and two cats.
“The dogs are so cute.
I love being able to sing
to them,” Maddy Farias,
9-year-old Orland Park resident,
said. Farias sang, “Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer,”
for the recital and had
the crowd dancing in their
seats.
The students had the opportunity
to pet and play
with the dogs after their performance.
Each of the three pups
were recently rescued.
NAWS volunteer Angela
Vivacqua said that most of
the animals at the shelter are
rescued from dangerous and
violent situations. The staff
has even rescued animals
outside of Illinois on more
than one occasion.
NAWS doubles as a clinic
with veterinary staff performing
simple procedures,
such as neutering/spaying
and microchip insertion.
Mylo, a 3-year-old Corgi
mix, was rescued from a
southern state and was a
crowd favorite because she
snuggled right up to each
person who visited her.
“We are huge dog lovers
so we are loving having
NAWS here today,” Todd
Beebe, All About Music guitar
lessons teacher, said.
Beebe and his wife, Connie
Beebe, have been with
All About Music since it
Edie Balester, 14, of New Lenox, closes the first recital with
“Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow” Dec. 8 during All
About Music’s annual Caroling for Critters” concert at St.
John’s United Church of Christ in Mokena.
Analisa Trofimuk/22nd Century Media
started more than 25 years
ago. Connie Beebe’s mother,
Carol Johnson, started
the Mokena music school
in 1992, at which time the
school offered group and
private lessons. Since then,
All About Music has grown
and serves students at any
age. Todd Beebe said their
youngest student is 7 and
their oldest is 75. Younger
students also have the option
to participate in the musicals
the school has three times a
year.
The Caroling for Critters
recital has been a longtime
tradition for the school and
is done in partnership with
different animal-focused organizations
every year. This
year, the recital featured
about 50 child musicians
from Mokena and the surrounding
communities.
Todd Beebe said one of
the best parts of his work at
All About Music is seeing
students grow as musicians
and then proceed to recruit
family and friends to take
private lessons as well.
New Lenox residents Audrey
and Edie Balester performed
Saturday. Audrey
Balester, 15, played a guitar
arrangement of, “Jolly Old
St. Nicholas,” and her sister
Edie, 14, sang, “Let it Snow,
Let it Snow, Let it Snow.”
The sisters participate in
music activities outside of
school, including chorus,
guitar lessons and theater.
They participate in private
lessons and the musicals at
All About Music.
“I think performing is really
rewarding and I also just
love doing it,” Edie said.
Audrey said she especially
enjoys the NAWS event because
she loves having the
opportunity to help the animals.
For more information on
adopting a rescue animal or
donating to NAWS, visit its
website at nawsus.org.
All About Music is currently
accepting applications
for lesson teachers and will
also be hosting auditions for
their spring musical, “Mary
Poppins.” For more information,
visit its website at
allaboutmusicmokena.com.