The 2011 Fall Holiday music recital of the students of Gail's Music Studio was held Saturday, Nov. 19, as an outdoor event hosted by Boroughs Tires and Alignment off Old U.S. 1 in Southern Pines.

The following students performed: Andy Thomas, of Pinehurst, is an adult student who began lessons a few weeks ago, and played "Jingle Bells." Camden Parada, 6, son of Steve and Carrie Parada, of Southern Pines, started lessons in August of this year and played "Revolving Door," "Bone, Sweet Bone," "Oscar the Octopus" and "Away in a Manger."

Sarah Mayo, 10, daughter of David and Mary Mayo, of Aberdeen, has had lessons previously with another teacher and has been with GMS since September. She played a duet with teacher Gail Summers, performing, "Catch a Falling Snowflake."

Hope Despain, 9, daughter of Craig and Claire DeSpain, of Pinebluff, started out in the "Little Maestro Program" at age 3. She performed "Jesus Tender Shepherd." Her brother, Noah DeSpain, 11, played "Sleepy Hollow."

Joseph (JZ) Brecher, 8, son of Joe and Dalija Brecher, of Whispering Pines, played "Old McDonald," "Up and Down" and a duet with Summers, "Jolly Old St. Nicholas."

Katie Cockman, of Aberdeen, an adult who has been taking lessons since August, performed "O Christmas Tree" and "Good King Wenceslas" as a duet with Summers, in addition to "Simple Gifts."

Monica Etowski, 8, daughter of Wayne and Heidi Etowski, of Vass, has been with Gail's Music Studio for four years. She performed "Jesus Loves Me," "Christmas Eve" and a duet with Summers, "Blue Christmas."

Her sister, Megan, 10, has also been playing four years and played "Hurdles," "Sun of My Soul," "Silent Night" and "Carol of the Bells," which she transposed into another key and bridged the different signatures with chords.

Blasmichael Delgado, 13, son of Blas and Marisol Delgado, of Candor, has been taking piano lessons through the Candor school system for two years and with GMS for five months. He played "Ode to Joy," "What Child Is This," and the first movement from Mozart's "Symphony No. 40." His brother, Jonathan Jesus, 11, has been taking piano since June and played "The First Noel," "Jingle Bells" and Beethoven's "Fur Elise."

Both boys play in their church, Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe, where Summers is the music director for the English-speaking Mass.

Mary Catherine Gualteros, 14, has been with GMS for two years. She is the daughter of Oscar and Barbara Gualteros, of Pinehurst, and performed "Now We Thank Thee," "Penguins," "Angels We Have Heard on High" and a duet of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" with Summers.

Grace Gualteros, 12, played "Faith of Our Fathers" "Bells," "Sleigh Ride," and as a duet with Summers, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." She has also been playing for two years.

As the finale of the program, the Gualteros sisters did a duet together called "You Lucky Ducks Rag."

The students of Gail's Music Studio are studying the different instruments of the orchestra in their unit study. Since the concert was outside, a Yamaha Clavinova was the keyboard instrument which allowed the students the ability to choose different instrument sounds for each of their songs.

After the recital, Camden Parada was recognized as the winner of the recent contest, "Traveling Down the Moldeau." He accumulated the most points mainly by memorizing every one of his lesson songs for the past two months. Points were also earned by working music puzzles, practice time, watching certain movies, etc. Second- and third-place winners were Mary Catherine and Grace Gualteros, respectively.

The end of the Moldeau journey was to arrive at "The Castle." So, after the recital students played in a Jumping Castle, provided by Richmond Rentals of Southern Pines, Refreshments were also served.

The owner and teacher of the studio, Gail Summers, has been teaching piano and voice for more than 35 years. Currently she is located on May Street in Southern Pines. In addition to piano and voice, Summers has developed piano lessons called the "Little Maestro Program" for children 2-4 (as long as they can count to 4), and teaches music appreciation to families that home-school. Her piano and voice lessons incorporate theory, music appreciation, and study of composers and their better known works, orchestral instruments and music from around the world.

She has recently added online piano lessons using Skype for anyone who cannot come to a studio for lessons. The studio is set up with a computer to play music theory games. There are audio and video stations where the students can watch and/or listen to DVD or VHS movies, and they are allowed to check them out to take home.

The newest addition to the GMS offerings is Wii Music. There will be a Wii Music party open to any music student on Jan. 13. Contact GMS at (910) 783-8863 to sign up for this event.