Natasha Szulist, front row, second from left, with her fellow Music for All Ages performers. Photo submitted

Staff and students at St Joseph's were honoured with a special monetary donation on Tuesday, June 11 from former student, Natasha Szulist. As an honour roll student, an accomplished musician, and a caring and contributing member of St Joseph's School and parish communities, Natasha is one of St. Joseph's most esteemed alumni.

In a June 17 submission, Szulist graduated from St Joseph's in June 2014. She attended St. Mary's High School and will be attending McMaster University in the fall where she will pursue a degree in Life Sciences.

Szulist has been playing the saxophone for nine years and has taken her Grade 7 practical exam. She's played in local concert bands, performed solos in local music festivals for many years, and won first place in the Grade 8 woodwinds category at the provincial music competition in 2018.

On Saturday June, 8, 2019, Szulist hosted an event called Music for All Ages at the Southampton United Church. The event featured talented young musicians from the Grey Bruce area. Szulist herself performed a few times, awing the audience with her saxophone performances. One of the most noteworthy acts, however, was when Szulist played a special piece composed specifically for her, by her elementary school Band Director, Mr Tim Broughton. The audience was moved by the way Natasha was able to bring Broughton's composition to life.

The week following her event, the proceeds were donated to both the Southampton United Church and St Joseph's School to support the continuation of the music program where her love for the saxophone first began.

St Joseph's staff and students wish to extend their sincere thanks to Natasha for her generosity as well as extend warm wishes for a successful transition to university life, in September.