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Warwick Academy concert to remember 9/11 victim

Fondly remembered: Rhondelle Tankard in her days as a Warwick Academy student

Warwick Academy students will hold a special concert tomorrow in memory of Rhondelle Tankard, whose life was claimed in the September 11 terror attacks.

Proceeds raised from the anniversary will go towards a scholarship in Ms Tankard’s name. The school hopes to honour her love of the piano and singing by aiding students of music.

Ms Tankard, 31, had just begun work at the World Trade Centre, in the New York offices of the Aon insurance company, the day before the attacks.

Tomorrow marks the 17th anniversary of the atrocity — the same age as many of the sixth-form students performing music and reading poems.

Rhondelle’s mother, Cheryl, will attend, as will her cousin and alumnus Radell Tankard, and his daughter, Malikah, a Year 9 student.

The idea sprang from a school trip to New York to attend the United Nations International School Conference last year, when the group of Warwick Academy students were snowed in.

Now sixth formers, students Nathan Cabral, Jackson McDonald, Joseph Arrowsmith, Samuel Brangman and Benjamin Pettit were abroad with teachers Shelly Grace and Anne Coakley, both of whom had taught Ms Tankard, when they visited the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

Jackson, 17, said he had just been born at the time of the attacks, and the group had not known of Ms Tankard or the two other Bermudians killed that day.

Saltus alumni Boyd Gatton and Robert Higley also perished at the World Trade Centre, where 2,977 people died.

Nathan said the group settled on the idea of “different musical performances and songs with readings poems to make people think about what happened”.

He added: “We are also going to have some of the teachers talk about Rhondelle.”

Ticket prices for tomorrow’s concert in the main school hall are $5.

The funds raised will support Warwick Academy jazz band students excelling in music who cannot afford to attend the Litchfield Summer Camp in Connecticut, which the jazz band has attended for the past four years.