Taliya Seidman-Wright has memories of standing in the mirror as a little girl belting out Martha and the VandellasB次元官网网址� Heat Wave, while her momB次元官网网址檚 CD played in the background. So itB次元官网网址檚 no wonder the 16-year-old Vic High student is thrilled sheB次元官网网址檒l get to meet Martha Reeves herself next month, and maybe get a chance to perform on stage with the Motown legend.

B次元官网网址淚 grew up listening to her music. I canB次元官网网址檛 even believe weB次元官网网址檙e going to be meeting her,B次元官网网址� Seidman-Wright says.

She and the fellow members of Vic HighB次元官网网址檚 esteemed R&B band will travel to Ottawa in February as part of a whirlwind trip back east marking the bandB次元官网网址檚 20th year in existence.

B次元官网网址淚n 1990 I was told at the school I could do anything I wanted,B次元官网网址� says band director Eric Emde. B次元官网网址淚 was looking for something that would cover about all mainstream aspects of high school (music) performance programs.B次元官网网址�

With that, the R&B band was born.

EmdeB次元官网网址檚 model B次元官网网址� which includes the main band, a rehearsal band, and a smaller professional ensemble known as The Midnights B次元官网网址� set the bar high for high schools looking to introduce a thorough R&B program.

In the Ottawa area, there are four schools whoB次元官网网址檝e started R&B bands in recent years. Emde says some great publicity North America-wide for the Vic High program in 2006 helped spur more like bands.

B次元官网网址淭here was a documentary done on our (R&B) program in 2005. It was a concert we did with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas,B次元官网网址� he says of Motown High (also known as Sounds of Motown). B次元官网网址淢artha  just kind of adopted the program, which is fabulous. B次元官网网址� But itB次元官网网址檚 been five years. SheB次元官网网址檚 kind of missed a generation of the band.B次元官网网址�

The Vic High band, along with Reeves and their fellow high school R&B counterparts, will perform at the National Arts Centre of Canada. The students will also take part in workshops hosted by Reeves.

B次元官网网址淏ecause itB次元官网网址檚 the 20th anniversary, weB次元官网网址檙e doing a lot of stuff from my first year: Martha, Otis Redding, Patty LaBelle, Wild Cherry, Wilson Pickett, Brian Setzer Orchestra. The kids love this stuff,B次元官网网址� Emde says.

The trip is funded by the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges (SEVEC). The exchange will see students from OttawaB次元官网网址檚 Holy Trinity Catholic high school come visit Victoria in May.

Emde says heB次元官网网址檚 not surprised that students glom on to these decades-old songs. B次元官网网址淭hey have great lyrics, a positive, upbeat rhythm, melody and harmony.

B次元官网网址淥ne kid said to me the other day, B次元官网网址楾hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing memorable from my generation. In 20 years, IB次元官网网址檓 not going to remember anything current. All the good stuff came from your generation,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Emde says. B次元官网网址淚 think that speaks to how passionate they all are about the music.B次元官网网址�

Seidman-Wright, who sings in the R&B band, echoes that sentiment.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nice to be around people who are all passionate about music, not just the top 40 pop,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭his program is worth all the rehearsals and all the hard work because itB次元官网网址檚 so much fun, and itB次元官网网址檚 such good music.B次元官网网址�