Avon Piano Students Raise Money for Massachusetts Tornado Victims

Playing music is not about showing off, according to Benita Rose. It's about helping people.

Nine of her piano students did just that Sunday, raising $155 for the Massachussetts tornado victims through a benefit recital at Avon Congregational Church, where Rose serves as director of music ministries.

Big Y, which is headquartered in Springfield, MA, matched all the proceeds raised Sunday, bringing the total to $310.

One of Rose’s newest students, Pauline Sparks, 10, of Canton, had a special connection to the event’s cause. Her father was at work in Springfield when the tornado hit on June 1. Fortunately, he wasn’t hurt, but his car was damaged.

“It was really scary for me because I thought my dad would never come home,” Sparks said.

But she wasn't nervous while playing music and thought the fundraiser concert was “very cool.”

The other students who performed were Canton sisters Christine and Margaret Babbitt, 10 and 8, respectively; Farmington siblings Ella and Stephen Preston, 10 and 8, respectively; Mansfield residents Claire and Cathy Chang, 12 and 9, respectively, as well as Ozzie Tang, 9; and Rae Gutcheon, 9, of West Hartford.

“I have them playing what they’re working on because developmentally it’s better for them to present what they need in their learning sequence…if they need to learn a piece to develop a certain skill in their playing then that’s what they need to be doing,” Rose said.

They played a wide array of music, from Don’t Stop Believin’ to pieces by Bach and Mozart.

“I thought they did a spectacular job. They have this way of rising to the occasion and we always have a rehearsal right before so they can get all their distractions out,” Rose said. 

The recital ended with a dramatic performance by Rose and her husband, Tony Gibbs, a saxophone player, that was accompanied by a video slideshow, which Avon resident Victoria Gibbs, 13, created, showing the destruction caused by the tornadoes in Springfield, West Springfield and other parts of Western Massachusetts.

Rose has taught piano for many years, but has only been teaching in Avon for the past two years. Her studio was previously based in Mansfield, where Tang first took lessons with her. For Rose, teaching music is more than just the notes.

“I’m hoping that [my students] will learn that music helps people and you can use music to help people so you don’t get nervous because you’re doing a good deed,” Rose said.