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Award for young composer

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Eva Maria Kokkoros is in her second year of study with Brantford Music for Young Children teacher Heather Corbett Tuttle.  In that short time, the six-year-old senior kindergarten student has earned a pretty sweet award.

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The youngster’s composition, Candyland, earned her a first place win both for eastern Canada, and internationally, in the 32nd annual International Composition Festival.

More than 5,500 Music for Young Children students from around the world competed in the three categories for children, aged 3 to 9.  Eva Maria’s win was in the Sunbeams 1 category for students, aged five to six, which saw about 900 children competing. A panel of 10 reviewers played each composition entry.

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“We look at composing ideas in October, start writing in January, and spend five or six weeks writing our song,” says Corbett Tuttle, who has been teaching Music for Young Children for the past 29 years, and piano for 36 years.

Corbett Tuttle says many great composers, such as Chopin and Beethoven, were inspired by some of their favourite paintings.

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Eva Maria drew inspiration for her song from a picture she drew of candy.

“She wanted it to sound happy because she loves candy,” says her mother, Despina Daikos. “Candy makes everyone happy.”

Corbett Tuttle notes that Music for Young Children involves singing, rhythm ensembles, piano and keyboard, theory, note reading and composing.

“All students learn composition starting at age 3,” the teacher explains. The youngest students sometimes employ stickers to help write their song.

For Eva Maria, a festival requirement was that the sheet music be written entirely by her own hand.

For the 11th year in a row, students under Corbett Tuttle’s tutelage received honours in this year’s festival. Laura Heikoop and Nora Van Berkel each earned second places, while Sonya Douglas and Katelyn Heikoop placed third place in their categories, for the region that encompasses Ontario and all provinces to the east. Another 15 of her students received honourable mentions in their categories.

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Daikos said she and her husband, Nick Kokkoros, are proud and happy, giving Corbett Tuttle credit for their daughter’s win.

“She’s the reason Eva Maria did so well,” Daikos said. “We weren’t expecting it, being only her second year, but we’re very happy.”

“I love teaching composing,” says Corbett Tuttle. “The art of expression is not just for those that play notes, but also for those that create. It can be as simple as adding colour to a black and white picture. We explore and take our time at composing.”

Heather Corbett Tuttle’s Music for Young Children students will be presenting Bach Beethoven and The Boys on Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at Brant Community Church, 69 Superior St., Brantford. Admission is free.

bethompson@postmedia.com

@EXPbthompson

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