Richmond, B.C. business lawyer Perry Ehrlich combines his love of music with his busy legal career.

Born and educated in Yorkton, Perry is the son of Grace and Dave Ehrlich, who owned and operated Yorkton Sask Dry Cleaners. As a pupil of Bunny Pearce, he obtained his basic musical education in Yorkton.

When he attended the University of Saskatchewan, he put himself through law school by playing the piano at dinner clubs. He was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1977.

Now, along with his successful law career, he has become a composer, pianist, teacher, arranger, producer and adjudicator, and has contributed his creative administrative energies to working with young people and children.

With the assistance of the Jewish Community Centre, he created "Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance" company, a musical theatre summer program for children aged nine to 19 who love to sing, dance and perform.

This program started out as a one-month program, but has since has grown into two months with children from as far away as Texas and northern Israel participating.

For all the company's productions, Perry has written the script in co-operation other script writers.

While the program is open to all, each participants must audition. One of the benefits of this program is the development self esteem on the part of the participants.

In 1994 Perry and Simon Isherwood, a director, actor and teacher, established "Sound Sensation", a performance choir of 27 girls and boys ages 11 to 19.This choir is a combination of a choir and a show.

The choir performed at the APEC 97 dinner, the gala opening of "Sunset Boulevard" and the opening of the Vancouver International Airport.

Other appearances of the choir were at Canada Day celebrations; the Canadian Event Industry Awards; the Winter Family Ball for Family Services of the North Shore; the 1999 United Way campaign kick off breakfast and the kick off for the BC Children's Hospital; the Canadian Figure Skating Championships and many more corporate and charitable functions.

The choir toured to Toronto, where it performed at Metro Hall and in Oakville. It also appeared on Much Music.

Along with his involvement with young people, Perry is also a composer. His "One Dream" was recorded by Charlotte Diamond and he composed the theme song for Sport BC's Athlete of the Year Awards Dinner.

With his musical partners Simon Isherwood and Douglas Macaulay, he has composed music for CBC-TV.

One of the highlights of Perry's musical career was to see his two daughters perform on stage together last summer.

Shannon Etkin, associate executive director of the Jewish Community Centre, said, "It's wonderful to have something you can work on with your children. Perry can share something he loves, and see it captured in his children."

Mr. Etkin said it is hoped the confidence gained by the young people working with Perry will stand them in good stead in other areas of their lives.

Perry has been quoted as saying, "In every good lawyer there is an actor."