Toll Gate seniors collaborate, compose music for Friday concert

By Dawn Anderson
Posted 4/27/17

By DAWN ANDERSON A close friendship, a love of music, and a desire to help others has inspired two Toll Gate High School students to collaborate on their senior projects. Jon Sundstrom and Zackary Whelan will be showcasing their musical talents at Toll

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Toll Gate seniors collaborate, compose music for Friday concert

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A close friendship, a love of music, and a desire to help others has inspired two Toll Gate High School students to collaborate on their senior projects. Jon Sundstrom and Zackary Whelan will be showcasing their musical talents at Toll Gate this Friday at 6 p.m. while they perform a concert to raise funds for diabetes.

The concert, which is Jon’s senior project, will be covering songs from a multitude of popular bands including Twenty One Pilots, Maroon 5 and The Script. The cause they are raising funds for also has personal meaning to him. “I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was two years old,” he said. “So it’s always been part of my life.” 

A drummer, keyboardist and pianist, he began entertaining ideas of a concert last year after forming a band with friends and playing several songs at a chorus performance.  

When it came time to discuss senior project topics, Jon and Zack decided they wanted to do something that highlighted their passion for music. After brainstorming and discussing various musical topics, they came up with their plan. Jon would put together a concert, and Zack would compose his own original song, both music and lyrics, and perform it at the concert.

“We unofficially teamed up for our senior projects,” said Zack.  

Although playing music since childhood, songwriting is fairly new to him.

“About a year ago, I became interested in writing lyrics and melodies,” says Zack. “I had never written a complete song for a full band until this project.”

This self-taught guitar player is also gifted in his ability to play a wide array of instruments including drums, percussion and keyboard. This also isn’t his first time being involved in a fundraiser. As a young boy, still in elementary school, he took it upon himself to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Meeting in junior high, the boys have played drums in band for six years now. Their friendship continued to forge ahead throughout the years before deciding to dedicate their time and talent.

“I am super-proud of both of them,” says Zack’s mother, Renee Whelan-Gomes. “It’s wonderful to know that they are able to combine the skills that they acquired in school with their passion for music.” Now, they are part of a group of close-knit friends joining together for a worthy cause. Other band members performing are bassist Ian Quinton, guitarist Alex Rizk, pianist David Yabut, and vocalists Lauren Kellerman and Grace Huggins. 

Jon, 18, plans on attending URI after graduation and will major in biotechnology, with the possibility of a minor in music. Seventeen-year-old Zack will be attending CCRI in the fall for general education and plans on pursuing a career in forensic science.

Wherever their future career paths lead them, these two generous young men will always be connected through all the lives they’ve touched with their talent, love and dedication towards music.

Tickets for tomorrow’s concert are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

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  • Jarenzat7

    *NOTE*

    Concert is at 7:00pm... not 6:00pm

    Thursday, April 27, 2017 Report this