SIDNEY B次元官网网址� When flautist Svenja Frey arrived from Germany to attend high school for a year in Sidney, she immediately joined the Parkland Secondary School band.

B次元官网网址淎s a German exchange student, daily life in another language can be hard sometimes. Music is like an international language to me, spoken the same all over the world.B次元官网网址�

Little did she realize she would have a chance to flex her musical muscle in the Sidney Concert Band (SCB), while supporting her schoolB次元官网网址檚 band program through SCBB次元官网网址檚 annual Christmas Benefit Concert.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e played in orchestras like the Sidney Concert Band before,B次元官网网址� explains Svenja, B次元官网网址渁nd itB次元官网网址檚 wonderful to find people on the other side of the world who enjoy music just as much as I do. It reminds me of home and now having the opportunity to play in the local concert band while supporting the school band programs is fantastic!

The SCB presents Christmas Memories, an evening of family-friendly seasonal music, vocals and an audience sing-along on Mon., Dec. 11 in the Parkland Secondary School Theatre. Concert proceeds will benefit the three Peninsula secondary school band programs. A pre-show Flute Ensemble will perform at 6:30 p.m. and the main show begins at 7 p.m.

This yearB次元官网网址檚 concert features an assortment of Christmas favourites such as ItB次元官网网址檚 the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Spirit of Christmas - a medley of traditional carols interwoven with the most iconic poem of the season, Twas the Night Before Christmas, as recited by SCBB次元官网网址檚 own raconteur extraordinaire, John Hewson. Vocalists Stephanie Benbow and Georgina Stevens will present Christmas from the B次元官网网址�50s and Jim Kingham will warm your heart with his rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The evening will also feature special guests, the High Notes Flute Choir and the bandB次元官网网址檚 own brass section in A Merry Brassy Christmas.

Conductor Bruce Ham knows only too well the demands of maintaining a viable band program.

B次元官网网址淎s a retired high school band director, IB次元官网网址檓 keenly aware of the financial needs of a school band program. Instruments and music are very expensive, so any help we can give these programs will be greatly appreciated.B次元官网网址�

Ham is actively involved with the Peninsula band programs at Parkland, StellyB次元官网网址檚 and Claremont secondary schools and through these connections, four students were invited to play with the SCB for the Dec. 11 concert.

B次元官网网址淪haring our collective musical knowledge with young people is so rewarding,B次元官网网址� Ham said. B次元官网网址淭he young people who perform with the Sidney Concert Band have the opportunity to sit next to B次元官网网址榮easonedB次元官网网址� musicians who are wonderful mentors. These students then take that experience back to their school and all their peers benefit as well.B次元官网网址�

StellyB次元官网网址檚 tenor saxophonist, William Beauvais, couldnB次元官网网址檛 agree more.

B次元官网网址淭he SCB is a great opportunity to meet friendly, talented people, and have fun! IB次元官网网址檓 excited to bring the skills theyB次元官网网址檝e taught me back to my bands at StellyB次元官网网址檚 as well as our local 676 Air Cadet band!B次元官网网址�

Schoolmate and percussionist, Sierra Newlove, echoes WilliamB次元官网网址檚 sentiments.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e enjoyed playing in the Sidney Concert Band these past few weeks, alongside so many experienced musicians.

B次元官网网址淣ow IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to applying my new skills in the StellyB次元官网网址檚 school band.B次元官网网址�

Trumpeter Ryan Kelly from Parkland says, B次元官网网址渂eing able to play in the SCB has allowed me to challenge myself and discover my full potential. IB次元官网网址檝e learned new playing techniques from the veteran musicians in the band and canB次元官网网址檛 wait to teach what IB次元官网网址檝e learned to the other kids in my school band.B次元官网网址�

For Svenja Frey, the SCB has quickly become a way to connect with musicians outside of Parkland Secondary.

B次元官网网址淭here are so many friendly, supportive and talented people in this band, Sidney can consider itself lucky!B次元官网网址�

The Parkland Theatre and parking area is located at the back of Parkland Secondary School, 10640 McDonald Park Road in North Saanich.

Entrance to the concert is by donation at the door. Food bank items are also encouraged.

Submitted by Yvonne Kupsch