Ads by Google Ads by Google

Young musicians honor Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid, Jr.

The late local patron of Dancing Fingers, Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid, Jr., a businessman, sportsman, and beloved father and grandfather. He will be honored tomorrow during a Christmas concert open to the public at at 6:00 p.m. at Calvary Temple AOG at Lepuapua (Leone). Six of Leala’s grandchildren will be performing in tomorrow’s concert that also honors their grandfather, as well as celebrates Christmas.  [Courtesy photo]
Source: Media release, Dancing Fingers

The late local patron and businessman Lealaifuaneva Peter E. Reid, Jr. will be honored tomorrow night during a Christmas concert, the first-ever public performance by 68 students from the Dancing Fingers Learning Center (DFLC) and the Strings of Psalms, an advanced strings ensemble from Calvary Temple AOG.

The concert starts at 6:00 p.m. at Calvary Temple AOG at Lepuapua (Leone) — is free of charge and the public is invited to attend.

Leala’s six grandchildren— Peter Reid IV, Rodney Reid, Jr., Michael Reid, Annaura Gillet, Reginald Reid, and Raenalynn Reid — are taking violin and piano lessons at the center. 

As part of the tribute, Annaura Gillet will say a few words before she and her cousins perform ‘Edelweiss’ from the Sound of Music (Rodgers & Hammerstein) followed by the concert orchestra with ‘Amazing Grace’ (Trad.). “I never had this many students from the same family… I  guess it’s fitting they do something special for their beloved Papa,’ said Poe Mageo, director of the DFLC.

Rev. Dr. John Mailo will offer the opening prayer while Mrs. Marissa Taamu, an English instructor from ASCC will be the narrator. Ms. Malaea Estherlene McFall, a classical pianist and music apprentice, will be conducting the concert orchestra.

Dancing Fingers Honorary Patron of Arts — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga and First Lady Cynthia Moliga — along with Mr. and Mrs. Lesa Lolo Pilimai, owners of Pacific Grading Company, Mrs. Teresa Passi of the Teresa Passi Scholarship Fund, parents, families, and friends are among the invites.

Dancing Fingers is known for its range of world-class repertoire from classical music, opera, Broadway, and jazz.

Performances include: three early intermediate piano students, who will perform Clementi’s sonatinas; first-time trumpeter Wesley Alexander McFall and first-time flutist Heavenly Tuaau, who will perform solos; as well as Michelle Lo, cello, and Kevin Lo, violin (brother and sister), who will perform a duet. 

The highlight of the concert is the 68-piece concert orchestra (strings, horns, woodwinds, piano). “You don’t hear that sound anywhere on island. So this is a holiday treat for our families this Christmas,” said Mageo.

To avoid confusion, the former Dancing Fingers Exclusive Piano Studio at Petesa Uta was officially closed in 2014 after a successful 10-year run, and when Mageo moved to the Fine Arts Dept. at ASCC to teach music. 

However, after a benefit concert in May where Mageo and his advanced violin and piano students staged ‘A Night at the Opera’ and raised funds to complete the American Red Cross building in Tafuna, parents insisted that Dancing Fingers must open again.

As a result, Mageo ordered instruments and held an orientation for new parents and students on the last week of August; a week later, music lessons began. And now as they say the rest is history. With the help of Cathy and Lesa Lolo Pilimai, Mageo was able to move to the Tafuna Industrial Park, across from BOH.

Next month, Mageo will team up with colleague Dr. Sybil Johnson to launch Painted Slippers, a children’s theatre company. Like Mageo, Dr. Johnson has an extensive experience with drama and theatre as well as the literary arts.