The students of Gail's Music Studio (GMS) held their spring recital May 26 outdoors at Boroughs Tires and Alignment on U.S. 1 in Southern Pines.

This year's recital focused on "Instruments of the Orchestra and Band," following the unity study theme of the past nine months.

Most of the song selections were of parades or marches.

This year joining in the recital were students of Claire DeSpain, who is working with GMS as a teacher of beginning piano.

Her students included 8-year-old twins Wesley and Zachary Strickland. They have been taking lessons for five months and are the sons of Eric and Letitia Strickland, of Raeford.

Hope DeSpain, 10, has been playing for about a year and performed "Swinging Along," by Schaum. Her brother, Noah, 12, has taken lessons for two years. He did an arrangement of "The William Tell Overture" titled "Ranger's Fanfare" by Nevin. They are the children of Craig and Claire DeSpain, of Pinebluff.

Andy Thomas, of Pinehurst, has been taking piano from GMS since last November. He performed three songs. Katie Cockman, from Aberdeen, has been taking piano lessons for nine months. She also played three songs.

Nine-year-old Joseph Brecher, son of Joe and Dalija Brecher, of Whispering Pines, has been with GMS for a year. He played "Follow the Leader," "Moving Right Along" and arrangements of "Radetsky March" and "Turkish March."

Monica Etowski, 9, and her sister Megan, 11, have been with GMS for four years. Monica performed "The Rider," "Tower Clock," "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." Megan played, "Drum Major" and "Scherzo." The girls, who are the daughters of Wayne and Heidi Etowski, of Whispering Pines, also performed a duet.

Zane Bonsal, 16, son of Kate Bonsal Tracy and Scott Tracy, of Southern Pines, was previously with GMS for three years and has recently returned. He played "Tiresome Woodpecker," "Warsaw Mazurka" and "Trumpet Concerto."

Fifteen-year-old Daniel Gualteros and his sisters Mary Catherine, 14, and Grace, 13, are the children of Oscar and Barbara Gualteros, of Pinehurst. Daniel has had lessons with another area teacher for nine months and GMS for about 18 months. The girls have been with GMS continually for going on three years.

Daniel played, "Spider Dance," "The Dress Parade" and "Igor Is Captain." Mary Catherine performed "Funeral March of a Marionette," "March of the Priests" and a duet with Gail Summers, "My Heart Will Go On," from the film "Titanic." Grace played "Puppet's Parade" and "Soldier's March," performed a duet with Gail Summers, "God Help the Outcast," from "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and was joined by her sister for the duet "Colors of the Wind," from "Pocahontas."

Summers presented each of the students with pins for their recital performance. Two students receiving special award trophies were Grace Gualteros for Most Improved and Joseph Brecher for Musicianmanship.

In addition to teaching piano and voice, Summers has developed the "Little Maestro Program" for children age 2 to 4 (as long as they can count to 4), which teaches the basic concepts of music. She also teaches music appreciation to families that home-school and has "music and movement" classes for children starting at age 2.

The studio is set up with computer, audio and video stations, along with a variety of games and Wii Music to help make learning not only educational but fun. Summer classes and music camp will be offered. Contact Gail's Music Studio at (910) 783-8863 for information.