Area bands get together to combine their sounds in The Generations Concert
Will be second year TASSS, North Shore Public School musicians will perform on same stage
Bands from Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS), Keene’s North Shore Public School and the Friends in Music are presenting The Generations Concert on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at the school, located at 1009 Armour Rd. Admission is pay what you can.
The TASSS band, conducted by Sherry Latchford-Couto, arts lead, and the Friends in Music band, conducted by Ben Jackson, will perform two pieces together, “I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond and “My Favourite Things” by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It will be the first time the two bands will be playing together.
Jackson is a retired music teacher who taught at TASSS.
“It’s exciting that I get to come back to where I taught for 27 years to play with a new generation of musicians there,” he says.
Jackson says the vast range of experience in both groups will blend together in the performance and it will be interesting to see those who play the same instruments and parts interacting.
“The audience will experience the span of generations, from the elementary students starting at the beginning, progressing to the high school students and the adults up to retirement age in the Friends in Music band,” says Jackson. “They will see that music is something you can do your whole life.”
This will be the second year that the TASSS and North Shore Public School bands will be performing on the same stage.
North Shore band conductor Zoe McLean teaches music to students from kindergarten to Grade 8 and band students from grades 6 through 8.
“North Shore is a feeder school to TASSS and last spring we took part in two events, including the band showcase where we were the opening performers,” said McLean.
“The kids get very excited about participating with the older students, and it gives them a good taste of performing as well as showing them what comes next at TASSS and as an adult. This year they are playing ‘City at Dusk’ and ‘Quest of the Black Knight.’ It’s a chance for the community, friends and family to enjoy the fruits of their efforts,” McLean added.
Ben Jackson will be conducting a summer band Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, starting June 11 for 10 weeks until Aug. 20, aimed at the Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 2 level, with some pieces above and below. Register at nhbpeterborough.com.
For information, visit Friends in Music on Facebook.
SPARK Photo Festival award winners
The 11th annual SPARK Photo Festival is on now until the end of April at various venues around the city and surrounding region.
The winners of the juried exhibit on the theme of texture were announced April 7 at the YMCA.
The Best in Show is “Wall with Four Pots, The Kasbah” by Lola Reid Allin; second place is “Wool” by Robert Beninger; third is “Duchesnay Falls Roots” by Emma Taylor; and fourth is a tie between “Onward and Upward” by Laura Berman and “Veins” by Corin Ford Forrester.
More information is available at sparkphotofestival.org.
Roast beef dinner
A roast beef dinner will be prepared by Grace United Church’s Health Cabinet at 581Howden St. on Saturday at 5 p.m. for one sitting, with roast beef, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, Yorkshires, gravy, veggies, dessert and tea/coffee.
Tickets are $25 and are available by calling Tina at 705-917-1697. No tickets will be available at the door.
Pottery sale
The Kawartha Potters Guild Spring Sale is coming up starting Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It continues Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is free and so is the parking at 993 Talwood Dr.
JOANNE CULLEY
IS AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
AND DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER.