A large marching band created an amazing sight and sound spectacle seldom seen or heard in these parts.

Students from Our Lady of the Rockies High School in Calgary provided a unique listening and visual experience for the Chemainus community Friday at the Rotary Bandshell in Waterwheel Park during an impromptu performance while on a visit to the south Island.

The performance came together through a booking at the Chemainus Theatre Festival to see B次元官网网址楪host The MusicalB次元官网网址� as part of their end-of-the-school year trip. The theatreB次元官网网址檚 booking agent Karen Sharanowski alerted Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society president Bev Knight about the band wanting to do a public performance while the students were in town and Knight opened up the bandshell to make that happen.

B次元官网网址淭he students are very excited to travel to the Island,B次元官网网址� noted Vince Strem, the instrumental music teacher at Our Lady of the Rockies High School in advance of the trip. B次元官网网址淢any have never left Calgary and the more they perform the better.B次元官网网址�

Those folks in town who got to see and hear them on short notice received a real treat.

They didnB次元官网网址檛 quite get the full impact of some 80 students playing while marching, but it was still an inspiring performance while stationary. It was impressive seeing the musicians crammed into and in front of the bandshell with their instruments and many of them arenB次元官网网址檛 tiny so it was quite a feat to play under those circumstances.

B次元官网网址淲e are excited to be here,B次元官网网址� Strem told the audience before the performance started.

The Sound of the Rockies Marching Band includes students in Grade 10 through 12 and is one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 last remaining high school bands. The program has been in operation since 1986 and has grown considerably, made up of brass, woodwind, percussion and colour guard.

There wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough room for the colour guard members that included flag performers and dancers, but they were still visible to the side of the stage in Waterwheel Park.

The band normally encompasses about 100 students, Strem said, with a large percentage being total beginners, although you wouldnB次元官网网址檛 know it.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also fun to stand still to play at times,B次元官网网址� he added.

The band performed for about a half hour and the set list included many familiar favourites.

Strem had senior students conducting the numbers as part of their leadership experience. The band opened with Neil DiamondB次元官网网址檚 Sweet Caroline and the Blue Swede version of Hooked On A Feeling.

Some fun compositions followed, including a mash-up of Earth Wind and FireB次元官网网址檚 Getaway/September, a Daft Punk medley, Spanish Parade sequence, Jazz Police and Latin parade sequence that included the vibrant sounds of SantanaB次元官网网址檚 Oye Como Va.

The audience thoroughly enjoyed the performance and it all ended too soon.

B次元官网网址淲e have a whole group of people that come with us that are staff,B次元官网网址� Strem explained. B次元官网网址淭hey do a fantastic job. Many of them are professionals in their industry. TheyB次元官网网址檙e the reason the kids have this experience.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 another group of people who travel with us and spend the whole year with us and do all the logistical organization.B次元官网网址�

And Strem is grateful for the backing of what he calls B次元官网网址渢he best parent association on the face of the earth.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like IB次元官网网址檓 a snowball rolling down the hill. ItB次元官网网址檚 driven by our parents and the enthusiasm of our staff.B次元官网网址�

Strem has been directing the band since 1999 and B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 teaching kidsB次元官网网址� kids right now,B次元官网网址� he laughed.

B次元官网网址淚 have the best job in the world. IB次元官网网址檓 so privileged to be in this job.B次元官网网址�

The program has meant the world to senior students like Curtis Huyghe.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot of community, something I didnB次元官网网址檛 have coming out of COVID,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 really love music. ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot of passion mixed with people.B次元官网网址�

The band goes on a trip every year. Strem had been to Chemainus before in the early 2000s and wanted to return while incorporating a visit to Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the payoff for their hard work,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey rehearse all year long.B次元官网网址�

The Chemainus Theatre showing of B次元官网网址楪host The MusicalB次元官网网址� was a highlight. B次元官网网址淭hey loved the theatre performance,B次元官网网址� said Strem. B次元官网网址淭hey went bananas.B次元官网网址�

A special arrangement was made for them to talk to the actors and ask questions afterwards.

The rest of the trip included: appearing in the Sidney Canada Day parade; a team-building exercise on the legislature lawn and a visit to Butchart Gardens.

Upon the return home, the bandB次元官网网址檚 next appearance is in the famous Calgary Stampede parade.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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