May 26, 2025

NOTHING SHY ABOUT ALFIE. LONG & McQUADE MUSIC STUDENT NATURAL IN RECITAL PERFORANCE YESTERDAY

GRAVENHURST — Forget stage fright, little Alfie Cockburn took big bows before he sat down at the piano to perform yesterday.

He doffed his cowboy hat and sunglasses and was dancing and floating on air — his feet not even reaching the grand’s pedals. He’s a natural.

**Piano student Alfie Cockburn is a natural and already has a fan in friend Charlotte Piche. PHOTOS Mark Clairmont**

It was much the same for 50 Long & McQuade music students at Trinity United Church for the store’s annual spring recital.

For a few it was their stage debut before an audience of family, friends of fellow young musicians.

But you’d never know it; they performed before the floor lights like seasoned artists.

The half dozen drummers in Charles McKittrick’s drum class who set the tone for the afternoon certainly weren’t shy. They pounded away beating the electronic kit like the Muppet’s Animal — hair and sticks wildly flying.

Cockburn’s teacher Dan McCoy could hardly contain his smile as he watched from behind as his not-too-shy student didn’t just tinkle the ivory, but attacked it with all the concentration he could muster staring at his music and translating his sight into his fingers. He had four students who each received appreciation certificates.

Guitar teacher Peter Wainwright was equally proud of his two guitar students Eli Macaleese who opened their section and Emerson Taylor who chorded Hotel California.

L&M’s Chris Timms introduced the eight teachers and their acts, including Sean McQuilter, Paul Everett and Stephen McPhail (guitar), Sherry Knappett (piano) and Ben Strople and Bonnie Milne’s students who played a variety of instruments.

It was great music and lots of fun and boded well for the future of live music.