Rising Canadian star to highlight Saturday’s anniversary concert

It’s a world premiere, being presented Saturday by a rising star on Canada’s musical horizon. And the arrangements were written by an iconic Canadian composer who often visited Lethbridge.

What better way to celebrate 30 years of music from the Lethbridge Community Band Society?

“It’s a really neat coincidence,” says Rene van de Vandel, the organization’s president and a longtime performer in its bands.

He’ll be on stage at Southminster United when Ontario-based vocalist Michael Vanhevel offers “The Best of the Crooners,” featuring specially written arrangements by the late Howard Cable. Cable first created a set of “Crooners” arrangements for Vanhevel and a symphony orchestra, then rewrote them so he could team up with the Lethbridge organization’s Gold Band.

“The genesis of the celebration concert was a conversation several years ago with the late, great Dr. Howard Cable,” explains guest conductor Ken Rogers.

He points out Cable, who died at an advanced age last spring, was “a dear musical friend of the Gold Band.” And having often worked with the band, “he was adamant that the Lethbridge Community Band Society had to hear this new young talent he had found.”

He recommended Vanhevel — from the Lake Huron community of Grand Bend, far from the concert halls of Toronto — as one of the best vocalists he’d worked with in over 70 years in the business.

As one of his last projects, Cable wrote the concert band “Crooners” score that will be heard first in Lethbridge.

Rogers says it’s “a wonderful mix of the best of decades of classic and modern crooners, mixed in with a good dose of memorable movie and TV favourites.”

Cable managed to combine parts of 47 songs in his score, Rogers says, including some of the hits by Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Bobby Darin, Paul Anka — and Elvis.

And for Vanhevel — here on his first-ever visit to Western Canada — an Elvis gig in eastern Ontario is next up on his itinerary. A live theatre actor as well as a singer, he’s performed on stages at Stratford and regional playhouses.

What attracted him to the Big Band vocalists and crooners, he says, is their nearly theatrical connection with their fans.

“I liked their swagger and their energy.”

With 30 years of achievements to celebrate, there should be plenty of energy flowing between the Gold Band and Vanhevel on Saturday.

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