The legacy of former Mount Baker Secondary School drama and music teacher Rod Osiowy will continue Saturday at the Key City Theatre with "A Beethoven Gala" by the Symphony of the Kootenays playing with special guest soloist Sarah Aleem.

Aleem, daughter of well-known Cranbrook surgeon Dr. Abdul Aleem, is dedicating her performance fee to the "Cranes of Hope," a project of the Osiowy family and the East Kootenay Foundation for Health.

Currently in her third year of completing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal, Aleem says she looks forward to performing at a concert dedicated to her former mentor.

"Rod always encouraged me to pursue a career in music, and I thank him immensely for that. It's so important for young people to have a strong support system from family, friends and teachers. I know that Rod had a tremendous influence on my life as well as my fellow students. He taught us the importance of working together to achieve a common goal. I am confident that his legacy will carry on for many generations."

The Osiowy family implemented the Cranes of Hope idea of symbolically selling individual cranes for $100 each until all 1,000 are sold as fundraiser in honour of Rod. Donations towards a crane contribute to the quality of health care in the East Kootenay, while providing hope to patients and their families.

Funds derived from the Cranes of Hope are held in trust by East Kootenay Foundation for Health to enhance oncology services at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

Symphony conductor Bruce Dunn says he's also looking forward to a special concert. "The whole thing is about Beethoven and Beethoven is always special and having Sarah Aleem back to do Beethoven is special too."

Aleem said she feels honoured and blessed to have been asked to play with the Symphony of the Kootenays. This will be her fifth performance with the symphony.

"It is not very often that an aspiring musician gets the opportunity to play with an orchestra, let alone one that has so many talented musicians, and a brilliant conductor," she said. "It can be a challenge for a soloist to collaborate with an orchestra as there is such little time to rehearse, but I've always felt secure every time I've played with them, it's always such a thrill."

In his lifetime, Beethoven did five piano concertos and the one to be performed Saturday, "The Emperor Concerto" is considered one of his best and was written late in his career when the great master could no longer hear, Dunn says.

"He was profoundly deaf by that time and he sat down to play, but he could no longer hear the orchestra. It's the last concerto. It is the longest. It's probably the most dramatic which is probably why it's called the Emperor Concerto and Sarah chose that one to do on her own."

Aleem said it is very demanding emotionally, physically and musically for both the pianist and the orchestra.

"It's very technical and elaborate, yet it still works fluidly as an entire piece. I personally have become quite attached with this piece. There's always something new to learn or discover, and it has been one of the most challenging and enjoyable pieces I've ever played," she said. "Its brilliance is captivating and I find it to be a piece that any person could enjoy, whether they are a musician or not."

The Beethoven concert will be followed by a Christmas concert Dec. 4, which will feature the first part of Handel's Messiah as well as a baroque choral piece and several shorter pieces by local piano students.

A Suite Serenade will be performed Feb. 19 at the Key City Theatre and the final concert April 9 will feature the famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, says Dunn, who also conducts the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra and is based in Kamloops.