Honour band ready to hit the stage

About 160 students in the junior and senior Westman Honour Band rehearsed together for the first time on Friday ahead of their annual concert.

The junior and senior bands are made up of Grade 7-12 students from roughly 15 to 20 schools across Westman. The students will perform on stage at 3 p.m. today at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

“It’s such a good opportunity for everyone because they get to meet people from around the region,” said Erin Dodds, the Westman Honour Band co-ordinator.

“It’s great for some of our more rural programs because they have the opportunity to play with a much larger size band and to see maybe different instruments that they don’t typically see in their band room.”

Dodds said the Westman Honour Band creates an opportunity for students to connect, make friendships and develop their independence and leadership skills, which they can share with students in their school band program.

She said the students received their sheet music in December and have been practising on their own at home or in their individual band programs for a couple months.

Trumpet player Jamie Monterola — a Grade 11 student at Neepawa Area Collegiate — said the senior band sounded great during rehearsal at 9 a.m., considering it was their first warmup all together.

“I’ve attended this like two years before, and I’m really surprised because this year … the trumpet balance and the sound is really good,” she said.

Monterola said that while it can feel nerve-racking to perform, “it’s always nice to have someone support you while you’re playing.” She added that she’s excited to have her parents in the audience.

Another student who plays in the senior band said it’s a great opportunity to perform with musicians she hasn’t met before because it helps her understand how they play and how their sounds mesh.

“I’ve played one of the pieces already, and it’s just like, so beautiful, and I’m excited to play it with … a different arrangement of people,” said Lydia Purdy, a Grade 11 student at Vincent Massey High School.

The percussionist said she has been lucky enough to participate in the band since Grade 8.

“I practise my mallet parts at school, and then for anything that’s like prismatic based, I just practise at home on … a practice pad with the metronome,” she said.

Alto saxophone player Carter Wong, a Grade 8 student at École Harrison, said he has been rehearsing from home as much as he can fit into his busy schedule — even if his sisters find it annoying.

“I’m just excited to … play as the full band because I’ve heard the songs when I practise by myself, but it’s just different when everyone else plays,” Wong said.

The junior and senior bands are expected to play five songs each at the concert.

Wong said his favourite song to perform in the junior band is “Nonsuch” by Matt Neufeld because it’s challenging with the 6/8 time signature.

Purdy said her favourite song is “Little English Suite” by Clare Grundman because it has four movements and is a “very endearing song” that reminds her of music an older couple might dance to in their kitchen.

Monterola’s favourite piece is “Balladair” by Frank Erickson because there’s a moment in the song when the trumpets have such a warm tone, she said.

This year’s junior honour band is conducted by Janet Yochim, and the senior honour band is conducted by Kevin James. Both conductors are from Virden and at one point James was Yochim’s band student, Dodds said.

The Westman Honour Band will share the stage with the Royal Canadian Air Force Band, directed by Lt. Luca Peveroni, and the Brandon University Symphonic Band led by Wendy Zander.

The RCAF band will play two songs, followed by performing two songs with BU. Then the junior and senior Westman Honour Band will perform last.

Tickets are a minimum of $5 and can be purchased at the auditorium’s box office or by calling 204-728-9510.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com