CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Jenet Clement expected there to be about five to 10 people during the Singing Strings alumni event.
Instead, the Park Royal United Church in Charlottetown had about 70 people in its gym on Jan. 4, all waiting to greet her.
They were there to celebrate the orchestra co-founders 80th birthday.
“I was completely surprised,” said Clement.
Singing Strings was founded by Clement and her late husband, John. They ran a string orchestra – focusing primarily on violin and similar instruments - for P.E.I. youth.
It started to become renown when they were asked to perform at a New Year's Day levee by the lieutenant-governor in the late-1970s.
Forty-two years later, the orchestra has made quite a name for itself. Clement has mentored countless students, and Singing Strings has performed for prestigious audiences, including members of the British royal family and at various festivals across Europe.
The surprise party for Clement was put together by her daughter, Wendy Evers-Forrester. It was no easy task keeping a gathering of this scale a secret, she said.
“It’s hard to keep things from her,” said Evers-Forrester.
Clement technically isn’t 80 years old just yet. Her birthday is on Feb. 5, but Evers-Forrester figured having the party a month earlier would be better for family members visiting over Christmas.
Singing Strings alumni came from far and wide to wish Clement a happy birthday, Evers-Forrester said.
“Musicians from all over the Maritimes.”
Island-songwriter Kinley Dowling, who goes by the stage name KINLEY, was one of Clement’s former students in attendance.
“I started taking violin in school in Grade 4 from her.”
Dowling first learned the violin but was later taught the viola. It’s a larger instrument and she was one of few students at the time with long enough arms.
“It’s funny, but it’s true,” Dowling said.
Her time performing with Singing Strings set her down a successful musical path, she said.
On top of getting to travel the world at a young age, she played with Hey Rosetta!, a popular Maritime indie band, for 10 years. She now has a recording studio where she composes violin music on contract and is releasing a self-titled music album in Feb. 2020.
Through it all, it was Clement that instilled in her a love for music.
“She was my main teacher,” Dowling said. “Definitely my musical hero.”
Clement can’t play violin anymore due to a shoulder injury but continues to teach private lessons using piano and her singing voice, she said.
“There’s always a way when you’re stubborn.”
The joy of teaching and watching her students grow has been one of the most enriching parts of her job over the years, she said.
“It expands your emotional vocabulary. It’s like a language.”
