Orchestra stirs city’s Christmas Spirit

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This article was published 11/12/2023 (1003 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was the perfect way to spend the day — surrounded by poinsettias and the sounds of Christmas carols and classics played by Brandon’s Community Orchestra, during the Mayor and City Hall’s annual concert and open house.

Every chair was taken, with even more people lining the back of the atrium. And at the end of the concert, Brandon’s Don Smith was among the crowd that gave the musicians a standing ovation.

“I come every year, I’m a big fan of big band music, and this was wonderful — just wonderful. I give it 10 out of 10 stars,” Smith said.

While Smith was congratulating the youngest member of the orchestra, percussionist 13-year-old Lydia Purdy, her mom Jenn stood beside her holding her French horn that she had just played.

That’s when Jenn’s 10-year-old son Gabe joined them holding his violin, followed by her husband Mike, which prompted Jenn to say, “He’s our roadie and our support,” as she laughed.

“I’ve been involved in music for decades and I think it’s very important to bring the young ones in. They both expressed interest so we’re nurturing that. Gabe wanted to play violin and he’s playing with the Suzuki Strings. And Lydia wanted to hit things, so we let her hit things, and I get to blow and make pretty music, so it’s good, it’s nice to do all that with family,” said Purdy, who is also president of the Brandon Community Orchestra.

During the concert, Lydia took her place by the big base drum and the timpani, which is a large tub-shaped drum. Her inspiration to play percussion came, she said, when she saw a video of two guys playing a marimuba, which is an instrument with wooden bars that are hit by mallets. Lydia sad they were trying to, “One up each other.”

But while she plays with the orchestra, it’s all concentration, she said.

“If I don’t know the music, I will not watch the conductor and I will hope I’m in time with everyone else. But if I know my music, I usually just stare at the conductor and hope I don’t get lost,” Lydia said.

This is Nikki Boylan’s second year as the orchestra’s conductor, “It’s always exciting to be playing at city hall so our friends, family and colleagues can hear what we do outside of work and home,” Boylan said.

The orchestra of amateur musicians rehearse every Saturday from September to May at the Brandon University School of Music.

During their performances, they play traditional classical music as well as pieces from Broadway shows, movies and standard Pops.

The Christmas concert and a spring gala are the orchestra’s two signature events, but they are also available to travel to other communities.

“These are all musicians from our community. Some are university musicians; some are retired and have just been playing with us for fun. Our youngest member is in Grade 9 this year and our oldest I think is in her 80s. So, we span a wide, wide range of ages and skills,” Boylan said.

Brandon’s Mayor Jeff Fawcett was invited to conduct a song during the concert, which he said he enjoyed and gave him an appreciation for the music the musicians make.

“They’re all so very good and they covered well when I was trying to conduct,” Fawcett said as he smiled. “The fact that we have a community orchestra is wonderful, and to have them here at city hall is a great use of our facility. I just love seeing the opportunity people have to continue to pursue any of the things that they enjoy,” said Fawcett.

The Brandon Community Orchestra is 37 years old. When it was established in 1986, it was known as the Brandon Symphony Orchestra.

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