By Misty DUPLESSIS

Rosemont’s music department, led by teacher Rod Yonkers, hosted its fourth annual pancake breakfast concert on Saturday, Oct. 13.

For only $5, music supporters feasted on sausage, bananas and all the pancakes they could eat made by parent volunteers.

Advanced chorus student Jill Snyder waited on tables while her mom Leslie helped direct parent volunteers to their assigned stations.

Both Jill and her mother were happy to help in the event because they wanted to support and thank Mr. Yonkers for being “an amazing teacher.”

Students from the strings, winds and the advanced strings group, as well as the concert band, chorus and the jazz band performed six songs with their music class. The groups were comprised of different skill levels from intermediate to advance.

Not only was there a range in skill levels, but also in the reasons why students joined Rosemont music and their ideas of where music will take them.

Saxophonist Anthony An was inspired to play the alto sax after watching a popular You Tube video. He said he enjoys playing and hopes to play for a few more years.

Concert band member and section leader Ian Camner has been playing the sax for almost four years.

“I started playing after I copied a friend, then I became committed to it. It’s really fun. I got passion for the instrument,” said Camner. He hopes to play the saxophone through high school and possibly beyond.

Before the students entertained the audience with their musical talents, Yonkers introduced the songs with historic and fun facts.

Yonkers chose popular pieces such as “It’s a Small World” and original works like “Majestica” by Brian Balmages for the students so they could become familiar with a variety of music and build their musical repertoire.

“This is my 22nd year working here,” said Yonkers. “I am blessed to be in this great community. I have all the advantages any music teacher could want.”

Over 1,000 meals were sold during the fundraiser and though the money raised will benefit the music department, it has yet to be determined as to what big items will be purchased.