March 24, 2011:  Entering its 11th exciting year, Halton District School Board’s Band Extravaganza will be held over two days (8:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m. each day) on Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30. The spectacle will bring together almost 1,000 Grade 7 and 8 students – representing 21 elementary schools and two high schools – for a day of music, learning and a lot of fun.

The event will be held at two locations – the Burlington Music Centre and Burlington Senior Centre; both sites are located at 2311 New Street in Burlington.

The Halton District School Board has commissioned two original concert band compositions specifically for this event – Mars by David Marlatt (a teacher at Alexander’s Public School in Burlington) and You Must Know by Ryan Meeboer. Both composers are well-known and respected Canadian composers of concert band music, and publish with Eighth Note Music Publishers.

The composers will be on hand both days to work with the students and conduct the premier performance of their compositions in the massed bands in the afternoon. The names of the participating schools will be published on these compositions and then distributed across North America.

Long and McQuade of Burlington has generously supplied most of the 20 clinicians needed for the two days. These clinicians are renowned musicians who teach privately, perform as professional musicians in orchestras, musicals, jazz groups, and as freelance musicians.

Students will start the day with a concert, performed by Oakville Trafalgar High School on March 29, and Nelson High School’s Sr. Wind Ensembles on March 30. Later, students will travel to a breakout session specifically for their instrument followed by a massed band rehearsal with the guest conductors and two composers. The students will conclude each day with a concert by the Halton Jr. Jazz, the award-winning jazz ensemble of Grade 7 and 8 music students from the Halton District School Board.

For additional information, contact:
      Mary Stevenson-Baratto
      Instructional Coordinator - The Arts
      Halton District School Board
      905-631-6120 ext. 452; barattom@hdsb.ca