Belmont Secondary SchoolB次元官网网址檚 music department has come full circle.
BelmontB次元官网网址檚 music director Mandart Chan and Grade 12 students Ben Darwin, Eryn Basham and Yohanna Vangenne, reminisced about days past and the B次元官网网址渆volution of the bandB次元官网网址� as Vangeene called it.
In the midst of preparing for the departmentB次元官网网址檚 Winter Concert, the journey theyB次元官网网址檝e been on for the last four years wasnB次元官网网址檛 lost on the senior students. This is the first time the department will be performing a concert inside the schoolB次元官网网址檚 gymnasium since moving into the new building.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really excited to have a gym concert B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 come full circle,B次元官网网址� Vangenne said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just breaking all the barriers B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 want to leave.B次元官网网址�
While last yearB次元官网网址檚 winter concert was a great experience, Basham noted there was limited seating and the audience had to get up and move to other areas in the school which meant performers were never able to hear all of the pieces in their entirety as they too were constantly on the move. B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 together and experiencing the whole thing at once,B次元官网网址� she explained.
Darwin added the move to the gym will also be good for Grade 9 students as they start to grow within the program. B次元官网网址淭he best thing will be the nines, we have a legacy built.B次元官网网址�
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As Chan explained, the move back to a gym concert was inspired by the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Belmont hosted performances last school year and Chan said they received great feedback from the musicians about the quality of sound in BelmontB次元官网网址檚 state-of-the-art gymnasium.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where we got our motivation from,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e can [also] fit 1,000 people in the stands.B次元官网网址�
And they just may need the space with all of the departmentB次元官网网址檚 ensembles performing pieces, including both drum lines, Grade 9 concert band, concert choir, junior and senior winds, jazz and vocal jazz, as well as R&B band and student-led combos. There will also be some middle and elementary school guests making an appearance for one of the pieces.
B次元官网网址淭he new building has given us the opportunity to break out of the old mould,B次元官网网址� Chan said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying on new things and experimenting with our operations as a department. WeB次元官网网址檙e evolving.B次元官网网址�
The new building has not only inspire staff but also students. B次元官网网址淭his is their home,B次元官网网址� Chan explained. B次元官网网址淭hey physically moved everything in.B次元官网网址� And having that ownership right from day one of how the department was set up translated to students taking exceptional pride in the space and the success of the program. As more students join the department, Chan said the senior students have been setting an example thatB次元官网网址檚 quickly picked up by the younger grades who are eager to take on ownership as well. B次元官网网址淒ay to day it still feels like a high school but thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more pride.B次元官网网址�
It also helps that the physical education department has been hosting every event they can in the new gym, Chan said. B次元官网网址淓very school that walks in, their jaws drop and they go B次元官网网址榯his is your gym?B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of pride from everyone, very few people are taking it for granted.B次元官网网址�
While a number of the Grade 12 students in the music department have been a part of a gym concert at the old school, Chan noted this will be entirely different, even in terms of logistics. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a completely new concept because of setup B次元官网网址� we wonB次元官网网址檛 blow a fuse when we plug in a sound system.B次元官网网址� Moving all of the equipment down the hall is also a nice change, as before the department would have to rent trucks to move everything between the old band room and the gym.
The Belmont Music DepartmentB次元官网网址檚 Winter Concert takes place next Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation and the department will be collecting donations ahead of the schoolB次元官网网址檚 annual 10,000 Tonight Food Drive.
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