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Music lessons help give Ruby a voice

Holly ThompsonManjimup-Bridgetown Times
Ruby Brown will perform some of her songs on Friday night at Tall Timbers as part of the annual music showcase.
Camera IconRuby Brown will perform some of her songs on Friday night at Tall Timbers as part of the annual music showcase. Credit: Holly Thompson

This year’s annual music showcase run by Marisa Leoni School of Music will raise money for one of its students, Ruby Brown, who has leukemia.

Eight-year-old Ruby has attended music therapy as part of her healing process and will also be performing at the showcase with a number of other students.

Music teacher Marisa De Vattimo has been teaching Ruby to sing, while her partner Mark has been teaching her Ukulele.

“Even though her vocal chords are purposefully paralysed by the surgeon to assist her breathing for the time being, she is still working hard to improve her singing,” Mrs De Vattimo said.

“Through her singing we are all hoping her speech and breathing will continue to improve.”

Ruby’s mother, Karleha Brown, said Ruby had needed speech therapy and decided music would be more interesting than regular speech therapy.

“She has really enjoyed it, it has been helpful as a bit of an outlet as well,” she said.

“We are very grateful the music school has been kind enough to raise this money, we will most likely be giving it to the Ronald McDonald House as they have helped us out so much through everything.”

Ruby will perform a variety of songs on Friday and bravely said she was not nervous in front of an audience.

The showcase will be held at Tall Timbers on Friday from 4pm till 7pm.

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