As soon as I walked into our choir room and saw Mrs. Triveri's smiling face, I knew I was home.

My music mentor is without a doubt my choir teacher Mrs. Triveri. I started choir when I was in grade five, but never really fell in love with it until I went to my older brother's high school Christmas concert and heard his school's choir sing. Mrs. Triveri was, of course, the conductor and I knew at that moment that I wanted to sing with her one day. In the coming years, I looked forward to every one of my brother's concerts, and it soon came my time to go to his high school for my grade eight year. When my first concert choir class came, I was ecstatic. As soon as I walked into our choir room and saw Mrs. Triveri's smiling face, I knew I was home.

That same year I joined the liturgy choir and the next years I also joined the musical and chamber choirs. What is so special about Mrs. Triveri is that she cares for you like a mother and goes above and beyond to ensure that our school music department feels like a family. I have countless memories of her comforting me on bad days, making me laugh with her analogies, and inspiring me to be myself and go outside of my comfort zone.

I have never been overly happy with high school. In fact, in grade ten I considered leaving my school, however it was the music department and the home that Mrs. Triveri helped me build there that swayed me to stay. Having choir at seven o'clock in the morning is not something I would do unless I truly loved it, and believe me when I say that because of my fantastic teacher, I truly do.

I have now been part of my school's choir family for five years and counting. I am graduating in a couple of months, so it is now time for me to leave the nest and continue my musical journey on my own. I am so incredibly grateful for the wisdom and passion that Mrs. Triveri has instilled in me and I know that I will carry the lessons I have learned from her for the rest of my life.

- Solaya Dofher