With an eye to raising public awareness and funds to help protect the Ghost-Waiparous watershed, a group of musicians will play the GWAS Benefit Concert at Beaupre Hall (located 15 kilometres west of Cochrane on Highway 1A) from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on March 18.
The evening will be filled with music and images celebrating the Ghost watershed and there will be refreshments, a cash bar and silent auction.
Among those who will perform is Canmore’s Alysse Ernewein, who will be joined by Lucas Chaisson, Robbie Aylesworth and Gary Lefebvre.
The Ghost Watershed Alliance Society’s (GWAS) mission is “to identify ecosystem and environmental issues affecting the watershed of the Ghost-Waiparous, raise public awareness and work towards resolving these issues.”
“If we don’t do something about our rivers, they’ll be gone, and I fully support anything that will prevent that,” said singer-songwriter Lefebvre, who’s no stranger to donating his musical capabilities to charitable fundraisers.
Sharon MacDonald, a volunteer and event coordinator for the GWAS, has been very pleased with the support shown for the event.
A cancer survivor herself, MacDonald felt with her new lease on life that helping to preserve the environment was her way of giving back.
“Through the concert, we hope to raise not only money, but also public awareness around the importance of the Ghost watershed and the challenges it faces,” she said.
“We also hope the concert will be a great way to bring the community together to support some of our local musicians, many of whom are just embarking on their musical careers.”
Just embarking indeed, as this year’s youngest performer is 14-year-old Ernewein.
A “triple threat performer” (dance, theatre and music), the young songstress took home first place at the 2010 Canmore Junior Idol, as well as winning an award of distinction at the 2010 Cochrane Rotary Talent Show for musical composition.
“My first memory of being interested in music was when I was three. . . . By age eight, I started experimenting with songwriting and I first started performing my original music at age 11,” said Ernewein.
As she continues to work on piano, flute and guitar, as well as practice with a vocal coach, Ernewein is excited about her future in music, and feels honoured to do her part for the Ghost watershed.
Getting ready to record his third CD, 17-year-old blues and roots artist Lucas Chaisson loves the dynamic of playing to a room filled with people all committed to the same cause.
“These shows are a lot different from regular gigs because you’re in a room full of people who are very passionate about the same thing. . . It makes for a very good audience,” he said.
Last, but certainly not least, on the musical agenda is 20-year-old Robbie Aylesworth.
Focused on releasing his second acoustic CD at the end of the month, Aylesworth said now is the time for him to get his name out by performing whenever and wherever he can.
“This event interested me because it hit so close to home,” he said. “We all need to do our part to make sure that this special place is sustainable for generations to come. I can contribute with music and awareness – someone else will contribute in another way.”
Tickets to see four diversely talented local musicians, and support the Ghost Watershed Alliance Society, can be purchased for $25 at Bentleys Books or Phantoms Music Store in Cochrane.
For more on GWAS, visit ghostwatershed.ca
