Sidney Concert Band celebrates its 30th Anniversary

30th Anniversary Concert – May 28, 2 p.m. Mary Winspear Centre, Charlie White Theatre

T he Sidney Concert Band is celebrating its 30th Anniversary – an incredible journey that began with the Band’s first performance on June 30, 1987 under rainy skies in Sidney’s Tulista Park.

By contrast, its 30th Anniversary concert takes place on Sunday May 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. in Sidney’s Charlie White Theatre, Mary Winspear Centre.

The Band has a membership of 45 musicians from the Saanich Peninsula, ranging in age from 16 to over 80. Over the years, SCB has contributed to the community through benefits and fundraisers, from Tsunami relief efforts, Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief and the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal – to the Sidney Lions Food Bank and Peninsula schools and air cadet band programs.

The theme for the May 28 concert is ‘Our Favourite Things’ and promises to deliver an entertaining afternoon of music appealing to a variety of concertgoers. To create the 30th Anniversary program, current Band members suggested some of their best loved concert band pieces, which Musical Director Bruce Ham then pulled together for this special performance. Highlights of the afternoon will include the trombone section on Trombone Rag and Kryn Zedel playing the unique huge bass sax on Tugalopp. Lively Port-au-Prince is by Bernie Wayne, an American composer who wrote over 1,000 songs and music for commercial jingles. To celebrate Canada’s 150th, the Band will perform works by Canadian composers Andre Jutras and Robert Buckley. Second Suite in F by Gustav Holst, a favourite of many band members, consists of four movements.

Moon River (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s) – composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer – received an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1961. This tender and enduring melody will be sung by Georgina Stevens, one of the student members of the band. Grandfather’s Clock by George Doughty, with its set of exciting variations make it an ideal concert selection to showcase the talents of our Euphonium soloist, Claire Mackelson. ‘Screamin’ John Hewson singing and playing harmonica on Shake, Rattle & Roll will keep things moving.

The program also includes selections that 24 SCB musicians performed at five shows in Cuba in April 2017. This unique trip provided band members with a week of musical and cultural exchange with Cuban counterparts in similar community bands. Prior to departure, SCB members fundraised enough money to bring along a beautiful birch drum set, which was then donated to Cuban percussion students. Individual band members also donated a wide range of instruments, including a brand new tuba! In a tribute to their Cuban adventure, the Band will perform Ritmando el Cha Cha Cha, which highlights the basic Mambo dance step … cha cha CHA!

Tickets are $15 and available online at www.marywinspear.ca or through the box office at 250-6560275.