Multi-generations coming together in music
Westben’s Upper Canada Christmas Nov. 26 at The Barn, Dec. 2 in Norwood, Dec. 3 at Northminister United
Coming together through music abounds at the Clock Tower this fall through Westben’s multi-generational educational programs.
The Westben Wind Ensemble and Instrumental Foundations, led by Nancy Elmhirst, have participants from ages nine to 80 exploring the joy of music through concert band music.
“It has become a way to spend quality family time for some members with parents and children playing in the same group,” Elmhirst stated. “Some adults are picking up instruments they haven’t played since high school and having a blast.”
There are three levels of groups that meet on Saturday mornings from beginner to those with more experience. Everyone (age nine and up) is welcome to the band program and Westben, in partnership with Norwood High School, can supply instruments if needed.
The Westben Cookie Choir (ages four to seven) is putting the final touches on the Pizza Song, Up, Up, Up and Down in the Jungle as well as learning about rhythm, dynamics, do ray mi, jumping and singing and basically having a great time while making music. The next session for Cookie choir will start in April. Call the Westben Box Office 705-6535508 for registration.
The Westben Youth, Teen, B Natural and Festival Choruses are exploring music and stories about Susanna Moodie and Catharine Parr Traill in preparation for Westben’s Upper Canada Christmas concerts Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 26 at 3 p.m. at The Barn and Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. at Norwood United and Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at Northminster United Church in Peterborough. Tickets are available at www.westben.ca.
The music in Upper Canada Christmas includes some traditional Christmas songs such as the Huron Carol, O Holy Night and I Wonder as I Wander as well as original music written by Brian Finley based on the texts by these two pioneer authors. There is also non-Christmas music such as Do You Want to Build a Snowman from the Disney movie Frozen and How Far I’ll Go from Moanna.
All of Westben’s educational programs, including the First-Friday Lunchtime Tick Talks, are made possible by many members of our community. Tick Talks are sponsored by Master Sub. Westben Education sponsors include Allen Insurance Group, metaphorhome, PilingtonHenniger Charitable Trust, the Rotary Club of Campbellford and the Warkworth Community Service Club. Educational bursary donors include Janice Allen, Ruth Fleming, Joan and Ray Sharp.
The Hastings County Insurance Brokers Association, an affiliate of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario which has 14 member brokerages from Hastings and Northumberland County, recently held a golf tournament which had more than 130 golfers from across the province. Proceeds from this tournament were designated to five youth organizations within Hastings and Northumberland Counties and Westben was selected as one of the organisations.
A cheque for $1,500 -- presented by Johanna Allen from Allen Insurance Group and Lionel Bennett of Newman Insurance -will be used to buy musical teaching tools and equipment which will benefit all the participants in the education programs.