What started as a way to have fun at lunch has turned into a six-member band thatB次元官网网址檚 raised $11,000 for charity causes.
The six-member band of Mount Douglas secondary teachers call themselves VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Other Secret and are booked all the way ahead to February when theyB次元官网网址檒l play their annual Super Ball, a fundraiser show of rock covers the night before footballB次元官网网址檚 Super Bowl.
As summer comes to an end, and most of the group return from their travels, the band is getting ready to get back at it. They will learn 30 songs, about 2.5 hours of playing, for each show.
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(Inset photo: Members of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Other Secret, from left, Alan Williams, Ben Greene, Doug Awai, Janine DukesB次元官网网址� Danny McMillan and Graham McLaren. Graham McLaren Photo)
B次元官网网址淚t takes a lot of time to prepare,B次元官网网址� said English and drama teacher Alan Williams, who sings and taps the tambourine and other light percussion. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a hoot. ItB次元官网网址檚 certainly been a great thing to discover in my 40s.B次元官网网址�
TheyB次元官网网址檝e done three events at the Legion and in 2018 hosted a show at White Eagle Hall in James Bay where they sold 200 tickets. Other Mount Doug teachers volunteered to run the bar and clean up after, saving money and adding to their charity proceeds.
The band started when Danny McMillan, a social studies and physical education teacher, took to playing the drums in the band room at lunch. He invited Williams to sing despite having no musical background. Drafting teacher and rowing coach Graham McLaren, English teacher Ben Greene and education assistant Janine Dukes joined too.
Eventually the band teacher, Doug Awai, came on board. TheyB次元官网网址檇 been meeting weekly for two years when they signed up for their first gig, joining the annual Mount Douglas talent show.
Initially they played straight rock music but theyB次元官网网址檝e adapted. The bandB次元官网网址檚 goal is to get people up and moving.
B次元官网网址淩ock was our go-to,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淪ome songs people responded to. We also added some R&B, funk and hip hop. As we do fundraisers, people come to dance, we realized more and more what works for that.B次元官网网址�
Williams and Dukes sing, Awai plays bass, keyboard, saxophone, guitar, and vocals, Greene plays guitar, keys, bass and harmonica, McLaren plays guitar and bass and McMillan plays drums. Dukes remains a member though she moved to Saint Michaels University School.
B次元官网网址淥ur first show was 500 people, lots of students, it was nerve-racking,B次元官网网址� recalled Williams. B次元官网网址淭hen we kept playing and doing school functions.B次元官网网址�
In 2016, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Other Secret joined other teachers from the district in hosting a fundraiser for Syrian refugees at the Gorge Legion that brought in $1,600.
Since 2016, the group has steered away from playing at Mount Doug and schedules its own gigs, such as the Super Ball. Each show is a different charity. TheyB次元官网网址檝e donated to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis aid (CassieB次元官网网址檚 Place), First Nation awareness (Gord DownieB次元官网网址檚 charity) and others, usually inspired by Mount Doug students.
B次元官网网址淲e thought our first show outside Mount Doug, our first real gig, would be a one-off,B次元官网网址� Williams said. B次元官网网址淏ut we had so much fun with it.
B次元官网网址淭he more you play, the more youB次元官网网址檙e comfortable. We have a little more stage presence now.B次元官网网址�
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