Music teacher Donny Parenteau poses with Sebastian MacGregor and Brian Sklar who donated the cheque on Friday afternoon. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Community Donation

Local fiddler receives memorial donation to remain in lessons

Aug 28, 2021 | 12:05 PM

A local eight-year-old boy Sebastian MacGregor recently saved up for over one year, saving all his birthday and Christmas money and put it towards a new fiddle.

This year, he is the first recipient of a new donation in honour of late musician Rob Anderson. Sebastian received $500 dollars and will use this money to remain in music lessons.

“He managed to save up and buy something he wanted to do,” Donny Parenteau, his music teacher said. “This is inspiration out the wazoo, and I love teaching him.”

Donny Parenteau used to tour and play with Rob Anderson. They used to also play with another man, Bryan Sklar, who made the donation.

“When Bryan came to me and said, do you have a student deserving of $500 and I said absolutely I do, and I immediately thought of Seby,” Parenteau said.

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He explained he thought of Sebastian right away as his back story reminds him of his own.

“I thought about me, when I first started, and what that was like,” Parenteau explained. “I took a chance and pursued my dream.”

Sabastian MacGregor saved up for this fiddle for over a year with birthday money and Christmas money. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

Sebastian meets with Parenteau for lessons once a week.

Brian Sklar explained that this will not be the last time somebody receives a donation in honour of Rob Anderson.

“Playing the fiddle is wonderful therapy,” Sklar said. “If anyone is interested in making a donation to the Rob Anderson Memorial Fund, we will gracefully accept. If we can keep doing this for 25 years, we will do it.

“We want to make sure people like Sebastian have a shot. Obviously, he is dedicated and talented and that is what it is all about.”

Both Brian and Donny say they want to open up more doors in the music industry to younger players.

“We are going to keep giving these $500 bursaries to young players, as long as the money holds out. That’s what it’s all about, just in memory of the guy that we loved.”

Sebastian’s mother, Jennifer Neiman was very grateful for the donation, and said the music lessons have really helped him open up more.

“It has been a huge help, it’s a big relief, lessons can be expensive,” Neiman said. “He has really opened up, especially at school. He is usually quite shy. Once his music lessons start, he gets super excited again and won’t stop talking about it.”

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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @dawsonthompson8