April 6, 2011

Halton District School Board’s 11th annual Band Extravaganza was held over two days this week: Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 30. The spectacle brught 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 was held at two locations – the Burlington Music Centre and Burlington Senior Centre.

The Halton District School Board 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 were 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 were to be published on these compositions and then distributed across North America.

Long and McQuade of Burlington 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 started 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 travelled to a breakout session specifically for their instrument followed by a massed band rehearsal with the guest conductors and two composers. The students concluded 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.