Guelph Teacher to Perform at World Series Opening Game

A Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute (CCVI) music teacher will take part in a major international event – the opening game of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Eric Froats, who leads the school’s music department, has been selected as a section leader for the visual presentation accompanying Pharrell Williams during the pregame show at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, October 24.

Froats said the opportunity offers valuable insight into large-scale productions. “It’s going to be a great learning experience to perform in such a large production – just to see how they organize it and how they put all the moving parts together,” he said.

Before becoming an educator, Froats served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and brings more than 30 years of experience in marching percussion. He has taught at CCVI for over a decade and directs the school’s music program.

In preparation for the event, Froats attended an intensive schedule of rehearsals, including a four-hour session Wednesday night, followed by six-hour practices on Thursday and Friday leading up to the performance. He said he plans to incorporate the skills and production knowledge gained from the World Series experience into the school’s Marching Arts program at CCVI.