Brandon students spread a little musical cheer

Listening to Brandon students perform classic Christmas carols unveiled a swell of sentimentality, nostalgia and joy for residents at senior living facilities this December.

Ed Walker, 77, had a front row seat while watching his daughter conduct a group of 60 students in Vincent Massey High School’s wind ensemble at Riverheights Terrace during the afternoon on Dec. 17.

He got choked up when describing his gratitude for the “rich” and “breathtaking” music, including how proud he is of the ways his daughter, Meaghan Graham flourishes as a band teacher and musician.

“It was fantastic,” said Walker, who moved into the independent living facility a month ago.

“It’s so fluid and well-timed, and it just makes you just appreciate it.”

Walker was one of approximately 45 residents who lined up chairs surrounding the band students near the dining area adorned with Christmas decorations to hear the cheery and timeless carols.

“Her mom would be just tremendously pleased to have seen her … because she always pushed her to do the best,” Walker said with tears welling in the corner of his eyes as he reflected on his wife’s passing.

He said his daughter has helped hundreds of teenagers develop their passion for playing a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument – many of which were decorated with bright-coloured tinsel and bows for the concert.

“What did you think, Dad?” Graham said after the wind ensemble completed the first half of their performance, which included songs like The Nutcracker: March, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Bell Carol, Silent Night and Up on the Housetop.

Walker smiled as Graham addressed the crowd and said, “I am incredibly proud to stand in front of these kids today.” Then she counted the ensemble in to start the next song.

She has been taking band students to play at senior living facilities for about 10 years, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years, and is never surprised by the growing number of teenagers who are keen on signing up to spread holiday cheer.

Often, she has too many Grades 9 to 12 students who are wanting to participate, so she schedules performances at multiple retirement or personal care homes to accommodate everyone.

Graham sees the value in performing for seniors because she would sing choral music at personal care homes in Winnipeg every Sunday during high school.

“Now that I’m working with high school students who are able to pick up the material quite quickly, it’s really something that we can do with ease, and it’s just a way to give back to the community,” she said.

“I plan on doing this right till the end of my career.”

Shirley Mabon, 83, thought the Vincent Massey students did a “wonderful job” and their performance prompted her to feel nostalgic.

“I had two boys that played in band many years ago, and so I just wouldn’t miss this because it brings back all those memories,” Mabon said.

The live concert also reminded Stewart Hayter, 89, of when he played the violin and clarinet at W. Ross Macdonald School in Brantford, Ont. roughly 75 years ago.

“It’s a type of music I thoroughly enjoy,” he said, adding that it was noticeable the students put their whole spirit into their work.

“I’m hoping that they come back.”

Hayter said playing an instrument is healing for the soul. He also believes learning music in a group setting will help students develop skills in teamwork.

“That’s what the high school band is all about – it’s learning the instrument and then working together to accomplish a given end,” he said. “I think that any community that doesn’t have a student orchestra are missing something.”

Grade 12 student Temitope Toogun, who plays clarinet and alto saxophone, said she understands how memories can come flooding back when people listen to music that is meaningful to them.

She wondered if some of the residents were thinking of moments with their children or grandchildren.

“To me, when I see them all happy, I think, ‘oh, they remember someone,’ so then I become even more happy to play,” Toogun said, whose been performing at senior living facilities since Grade 9.

“I’m just really glad we were able to come to them and play,” she said.

Grade 10 tuba player Rhys Jenkins said this was his first year going out to perform at personal care homes and he’s already looking forward to doing it for the next holiday season.

“I was happy that they are there listening to us and that we got to make them happy,” he said.

It means a lot to see the smiles on residents’ faces and for the teenagers to have this experience, said Riverheights Terrace general manager Darla Helena.

This year, 15 to 20 Vincent Massey High School students also went to Valleyview Care Centre on Dec. 16 and Hillcrest Place Personal Care Home in the morning on Dec. 17.

Instead of conducting, Graham joined the students by playing trumpet for all 10 carols at Hillcrest Place Personal Care Home.

About 20 residents engaged with the repertoire by swaying and clapping with some ‘oos’ and ‘awes’ after popular songs like Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Grade 9 student Darby King Fraser, who played flute and alto saxophone at the Valleyview and Hillcrest personal care homes, said music is a universal language.

“I feel music connects people,” she said. “We don’t all understand the same, but music is something that we can all understand whether you have experience with it or not.”

King Fraser said she has loved music since she was young and felt elated to play for an audience who may not have the opportunity to hear a live orchestra often.

Grade 9 clarinet player Jae Moosetail echoed her classmate’s response saying it was “very fun” to perform for the seniors. Playing clarinet is one of her favourite things to do and she was happy to share that passion with others.

On Dec. 10, École Harrison music teacher Janelle Wilts trudged through about a foot of snow with 16 Grade 7 and 8 students to the Fairview Personal Care Home to sing Christmas carols on all five floors.

As the extracurricular contemporary vocal jazz group École Harrison Ovation (ÉCHO) sang Let It Snow on the second floor, Wilts smiled and told the residents it was “a song that’s perfect for today.”

“We hope you sing along,” she said, and many of the residents did. They listened intently while some swayed from side to side, tapped their feet and wished the students a Merry Christmas and happy new year when they finished their set.

A man on floor two was feeling very festive as he pulled up to the main room in his wheelchair that had twinkling Christmas lights wrapped around the wheels and armrests.

He shouted “one more time” when the students were met with a roaring applause from the crowd after singing 10 to 12 songs, including Jingle Bell Rock, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and pop song Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye ft. Kimbra.

“It is always nice to see people’s eyes light up when they hear a particular melody from very younger years that bring back memories,” Wilts told the Sun.

“I saw some people who were excitedly singing along, I saw some people moving to the music, and I saw some people definitely had a lot of emotion and some tears at different times too,” she said.

Though Wilts has been teaching at École Harrison for two years, the annual tradition of Christmas caroling at Fairview Personal Care Home has been carried out since 2013.

“It’s really important for our students to kind of get out of our school and to see what different people’s lives are like at different places,” she said.

The music teacher was proud to see how much the choir improved as they performed on each floor that was embellished with strands of garland hanging from the ceiling, Christmas trees, wreaths and a recording of a burning fireplace on a TV screen.

The students sang for a total of 85 residents that day. Staff at Fairview and Hillcrest assisted living centres denied the Brandon Sun’s request to interview residents about the impact the caroling or band performances had on them.

The month of December gets booked up quickly as many school groups, musicians and church choirs come to perform at Fairview Personal Care Home, which means a lot to the residents, said volunteer coordinator Maxine Brown.

“Hearing those familiar songs, it does stimulate that act of participation, whether it’s through singing or clapping, and it provides that opportunity for socialization,” Brown said.

“It increases the well-being of our residents, right? And that’s why the music programs are so popular.”

» tadamski@brandonsun.com