TEGSA brings Smile Theatre to Goan Seniors
The newly elected Toronto East Goans Seniors Association’s (TEGSA) Executive first event, a Dinner/Theatre, held on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at the Commander Hall was a resounding success.
More than 200 members and guests arrived in time for the sold-out event, and were promptly treated to a sumptuous dinner served by hardworking members of the new executive and a host of volunteers.

Social Secretary, Vicki D’Souza, then introduced the main event – a live, hour long performance entitled “Popcorn Princess” sponsored by the Wishing Wells Lions Club.


From: SMILE  THEATRE website:  http://www.smiletheatre.com/

The singing and acting of the two performers, Shawna van Omme & Kevin Etherington held the audience spell-bound and joining in the songs which included old favourites such as “Moonlight Bay”.
Smile Theatre is the only professional theatre company in Ontario (Canada) dedicated to performing for senior citizens. For over 30 years, The Smile Theatre Company has been bringing professional musical theatre to seniors in Ontario -- audiences that, because of physical or transportation difficulties, cannot attend regular performances.
Each year, Smile tours five original productions to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other seniors’ facilities in Ontario. The company performs, often twice a day in over 400 shows over an eleven month season to approximately
 40,000 seniors.
For more information visit their website: http://www.smiletheatre.com/ to register your support.

 
 

1 Vicki with Shawna van Omme & Kevin Etherington
2. TEGSA Seniors at Commander Place
3. Pelagio D’Souza ( fro Sponsors Wishing Wells Lions Club) thanking the Stars - Shawna & Kevin

After the theatre, the members all played one round of Bingo and judging by the feedback received, a good time was had by everyone, all for the moderate price of $5.00 per person.
TEGSA will be holding regular seniors events at Commander Place. Contact Uvy Lopes for forthcoming events or to offer support for Goan Seniors.
E-mail: unmlopes@sympatico.ca
 

Elliott Braganza set for Masters in Piano Performance

Elliott Braganza will be entering his first year of the Masters in Piano Performance program at the University of Ottawa in September 2006, where he will be studying with Stephane Lemelin. He is receiving a very generous scholarship from Ottawa - fully paid tuition and a Teaching Assistantship as well Elliott received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada in 2006. He also holds an Associateship in Piano Performance with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). Elliott was raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick and began studying piano with Joan Pike and Norma Ferguson. He continued his piano studies with Gwen Beamish at Western.

He began studying cello at age 11 with Sonja Adams and later studied with Thomas Wiebe at Western. He also studied conducting with Jerome Summers at Western, acting as conducting assistant for the Western Symphony Orchestra for their 2005-06 season. Some of Elliott's accomplishments include winning the Senior Star of the Fredericton Festival in 1999 and 2000, and receiving the Silver Medal from the Royal Conservatory for highest mark in Grade X piano in
the Atlantic Region. He has won many awards in music festivals in Fredericton and London, Ontario, receiving an honourable mention in the 2005 Ontario Provincial Festival and runner-up in the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association Young Artists' Competition. Elliott has performed with the Western Symphony Orchestra, Symphony New Brunswick, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and the Fredericton Chamber Players. Elliott has performed recitals in both Canada and the United States, including a benefit concert for a Fredericton hospital in 2005 and a recital at Winthrop University in South Carolina also in 2005.

Elliott wishes to continue pursuing post-graduate studies in music, possibly in performance and conducting.

Elliot is the son of Myra and Dr. Larry Braganza of Fredericton, New Brunswick