Apr 29, 2010


Ainsley Jeffrey, Leah Gurr, Anne Archer, Katelyn Doreen and Katie McNichols

Students at Loughborough Public School were getting in one of their last regular rehearsals for Band Bash, the upcoming annual concert for 300 students in Limestone District School Board schools.

The concert is the culmination of the Partnership in Music Program that runs in various LDSB schools for students in grades 6, 7 and 8 and this year close to 300 students are involved.

The program brings professional musicians from the community into local schools, where they offer one hour of instruction per week to students in various band instruments, including flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet drums, lower brass horns and trombones.

The program came into existence roughly 15 years ago, when a number of elementary schools were forced to drop their music programs as a result of budget cuts.

Professional musician Anne Archer is an instructor in the program and teaches flute to students at Sharbot Lake High School and Loughborough PS. On April 27 her grade 7 flute class was putting some finishing touches to a number of pieces that they will be performing at Band Bash. After a run through of “O’ Canada”, the students worked on “Pirates of the Caribbean”, the Simpsons’ theme song, “Stratford March” and “Shalom”, a piece that the group along with Anne will be performing solo at the concert.

For the students the concert is an opportunity to hear how their efforts will come together in a professional venue.

Anne described the pleasure she takes in teaching these students. “It’s a real pleasure to get together with a small group of students, and because the students have elected to do this they are a real pleasure and a joy to teach.”

The concert takes place May 5 at the Grand Hall at Queen’s University in Kingston. A final rehearsal will take place from 3-5pm and the performance will take place from 5:30-6pm. Award-winning composer and director of the Kingston Orchestra, John Palmer, will be conducting.

The guest ensemble performing at the concert will be the La Salle Community Band under the direction of Chris Alfano and they will be playing selections from the musical “Oklahoma”.

 

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