Killarney band reunites for Canada Day performance

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This article was published 30/06/2017 (3208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tim Lawson is getting the band back together.

The retired band director at Killarney School has rallied dozens of former students to dust off their forgotten instruments to make music again.

Together, the 42-member alumni band will perform for one special engagement on Saturday, as part of Killarney’s celebrations for Canada’s 150th birthday.

Lawson, a 34-year band director, didn’t know what to expect when members of the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Arts Council figured musically inclined high school graduates should be placed under his tutelage once again.

“A lot of them hadn’t played their instruments in 20 or 25 years,” said Lawson, who is on the arts council.

“I kind of said to them, tongue in cheek, it’s just like riding bike, but I didn’t know if it’s going to be like riding a bike,” he said, unsure of the amount of work ahead.

But by the end of their first rehearsal this month, he knew they would click.

He went from proposing a performance of “O Canada” and three other musical pieces, to adding two more songs to his initial plan, as well as a rendition of “God Save the Queen.”

Lawson has keen students to thank. Band members have asked to extend the length of practices, and have the band room opened up in advance.

Those unable to make the practices are watching YouTube tutorials as they relearn their instruments.

In Killarney and Winnipeg, some band members are scheduling their own rehearsals, playing outside on people’s decks.

“They’ve really taken it seriously. I was saying, ‘Jeez, I wish they were like that when they were in high school,’” Lawson said with a laugh.

“One of them was saying, ‘I practised more this last month than I did all the way through high school.’”

Most of the alumni live in the Killarney area, or are in town for the summer. There are five performers from Brandon, four from Winnipeg and one each from Manitou, Winkler and Estevan, Sask., he said.

Students who graduated from Killarney School on Monday are rubbing shoulders with alumni who got their diplomas 20 to 25 years ago, said Lawson, who retired from teaching in 2011. His daughter, Meagan, has led the school’s band program ever since.

“That whole mix has really been neat,” he explained of the age range. “The young kids have really enjoyed it and it’s good to see. Maybe they won’t sell their instrument.”

Lawson remembers telling his students to avoid selling their instruments after graduation when money was tight, a decision they may later regret.

He’s surprised how many listened, as only a few instruments had to be loaned out.

Tonight, all 42 members, including the out-of-towners, will play together for the first time, in preparation for their concert Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Shamrock Centre hall. The day’s packed festivities also includes an art exhibition in the Shamrock Centre foyer, beginning at 11 a.m.

Beside rehearsing their music, Lawson said the reminiscing and laughter has been memorable. A number of people stayed an hour and a half after one rehearsal, telling stories they remember from their band trips.

“This is about having a good time and getting together and doing music,” Lawson said. “They have just been phenomenal.”

Prior to this month’s practices, Curt Struth played his trumpet maybe 15 minutes in the 21 years since graduation.

He’s impressed by how quickly the alumni band has gelled.

“There was one guy playing a solo at the first practice,” Struth said. “I don’t think he picked up his sax in 20 years.”

Jared Bartley, who plays baritone saxophone, was looking forward to his first rehearsal to listen to how badly he sounded.

Yet he exceeded his own expectations, to the extent he feels like he has never stopped playing.

Others might be pleasantly surprised, too.

“I don’t know what people are expecting out of us, but I think they’re going to be surprised by what they hear,” Bartley said.

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