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Profile 1 - Andy Rush
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.By Marion Warnica with photography
by Bernard Clark
 A
teacher and community pillar who has changed the face of music education
in Kingston, Andy Rush was once described by Canadian folk icon
David Francey as “a ball of pure energy which occasionally
assumes the form of a man.”
As Andy breezes through the music classroom doors at Ernestown Secondary
School, light seeming to radiate from his face and bright smile,
the description seems apt. His feet speed over the dark blue carpet,
changing directions and zigging back again. He’s wearing black
jeans, a fitted white button-down shirt with plaid detailing on
the shoulders and a small hoop earring in his left ear.
“Who needs this song? Do you have this one yet?” A stream
of more than 30 kids, who fill up the available space in the large
room, take music sheets. They’re chatting, laughing, bouncy
after the school bell. Drums and stacks of music stands adorn the
back of the classroom. A rainbow string of Buddhist prayer flags
that Andy brought from India hangs near the door.
The hands of the clock point to 2:45 p.m. Andy is standing, but
not still, in front of the piano. The group settles on the floor
in rows facing him. They are fully attentive now as he talks about
their goals for the day. Soon they stand up, watching their teacher
catapult into what he does best: directing a choir. Jimi Hendrix,
The Beatles and Gordon Lightfoot watch from posters high on the
walls — stars who were at the peak of their fame when Andy
took his first major step toward his creative life. . . .
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Profile Kingston and Summer in the City are divisions
of Riverview Publishing Inc.
© 2010 Profile Kingston/Summer in the City/Riverview Publishing
Inc. No reproduction or republication in whole or part without written
permission.
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