The last time Belmont Secondary School held a live concert, life as everyone knows it changed shortly after.

It was March 2020, just days before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, sending the world into lockdown.

Flash forward to today and the schoolB次元官网网址檚 music department is gearing up to put on their first concert since that fateful time, and the excitement amongst band members is reaching a crescendo.

B次元官网网址淥ur Winter Concert is basically a cumulative performance from the first semester of the year,B次元官网网址� said Grade 12 student Sadie Karlsson.

The concert features performances from the schoolB次元官网网址檚 bands, each with their own musical flavour. This yearB次元官网网址檚 performance includes concert bands, a drum line, a jazz band, vocal jazz band, R&B band and several student-directed combo bands.

For Karlsson, a vocalist and french horn player in multiple bands, itB次元官网网址檚 the jazz selection she is most excited to perform.

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Grade 9 student Presley Eberle will be performing bass guitar at her first high school concert as part of Band 9/10, with Forge of Vulcan being the piece she is most looking forward to.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a really fast-paced and exciting piece,B次元官网网址� said Eberle. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited I get to perform with everyone else and that I get to perform live. It feels unreal after the pandemic.B次元官网网址�

Music director Mandart Chan said even though the school has done a good job of keeping musical performance alive during the pandemic B次元官网网址� with plenty of virtual and recorded concerts being produced B次元官网网址� the return to live performance is very much welcomed. He said in addition to the educational benefits, live performance is an important source of familiarity for both the students and the wider school community in uncertain times.

From an educational standpoint, Chan said live concerts allow the young musicians to perform together as part of one big show, rather than in the silos of rehearsals and classes. He said this allows the students to practice and use teamwork skills they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 otherwise.

Admission for the Dec. 8 show is free, but those looking to attend must for contact tracing purposes. Donations to the music department or for the Goldstream Food Bank will be collected.

Doors open at the Belmont Secondary School gym at 6:30 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m. Unlike in previous years, no formal intermission with refreshments will be held, though audience members are welcome to bring a bottle of water with them.

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justin.samanski-langille@goldstreamgazette.com
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