SYDNEY, N.S. — At the tender age of 15, Matthew Mulvihill has already assembled a resume that would leave most people exhausted.
With 19 extracurricular activities, six voluntary activities and a pageful of achievements that include gold medals for top achievement in Atlantic Canada on two musical instruments, Mulvihill is a going concern with a schedule that includes being a top student, volunteer, musician and athlete.
“I enjoy being involved in many different activities inside and outside of school,” said Mulvihill, a Grade 10 French immersion student at Riverview High School, who also happens to be on the academic honour roll.
Over the next few weeks, he’ll be preparing for what has become his own annual tradition — playing the "Last Post" at various Remembrance Day services throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
“Last year I played at the Remembrance Day ceremonies for Marion Bridge Elementary and Riverside Elementary,” he saids. “Also on Remembrance Day for the past two years and this year as well I’m going to be doing (the service in) Sydney Mines for the legion.”
Mulvihill plays the trumpet at these services and always looks forward to taking part.
“I’m very honoured to be asked to do them.”
Music teachers recommended him for the services because of his playing abilities. He recently received the Royal Conservatory’s gold medal for grade 4 trumpet for all of Atlantic Canada. And if that wasn’t enough, he received gold medals for grades 5 and 6 piano in 2018 and 2019 respectively. He is currently working on level 8 piano and level 5 trumpet, as well as level 8 music theory. He won the top middle school student award in the Cape Breton Kiwanis Music Festival in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
In addition to tutoring other students, over the years he has also been a perennial winner at local academic events. He won a silver medal and a discovery award in the Cape Breton Regional Science Fair in 2018 and an honourable mention in 2019 for that year’s event. He won a silver medal at Malcolm Munroe’s science fair in 2018 and 2019, and in 2015, he had top grade 5 project for the Cape Breton Regional Heritage Fair and was the region's representative for the Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Fair. He was also the top reader for the region in the WOW Reading Challenge.
As well, Mulvihill has taken part in chess club, the Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia, Art Club, his high school book club and interact club and the school councils at both Malcolm Munroe and Riverview. He’s also a soccer player who has been a member of Soccer Cape Breton and the Nova Scotia Soccer League since 2014.
His other voluntary experience includes taking part in the Saint Vincent de Paul Christmas dinners and orders, the Fortress of Louisbourg’s Fife and Drum Program, playing trumpet for veteran’s graveside services and the Youth Peer Program.
Mulvihill is the son of Paula and John Mulvihill of Albert Bridge.
