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R.D. Parker Collegiate bands see busy and successful year

Four music groups from R.D. Parker Collegiate – the jazz combo, the intermediate jazz ensemble, the senior jazz ensemble adrenal jazz, and the local jazz ensemble – attended the non-competitive educational music festival in Brandon from March 19-22.
senior jazz ensemble April 2015
The senior jazz ensemble was one of four bands from Thompson to perform during a non-competitive education music festival March 19-22 in Brandon.

Four music groups from R.D. Parker Collegiate – the jazz combo, the intermediate jazz ensemble, the senior jazz ensemble adrenal jazz, and the local jazz ensemble – attended the non-competitive educational music festival in Brandon from March 19-22. “They had a performance they were adjudicated during and then they had a one-hour clinic with a musician/teacher after. They spent time working on their repertoire, some technical things and some listening and jazz idiom stuff,” explained Kevin Lewis, the music teacher at the high school.

Lewis said the feedback the students received was beyond great. “They got some really positive reactions. Our senior ensemble in particular had really exceptional reactions from our clinicians. The two that worked with us told us we were the best ensemble they heard at the festival. They wouldn’t have heard everyone at the festival but we were the top they heard at their venue, out of the four.”

For the young musicians, Lewis says having the opportunity to travel to Brandon every year, which the school has been going to for over 20 years, is key. “When they’re playing at that level, too, there’s a lot of pride in what they’re doing. They have passion, and they care about what they’re doing. To have an opportunity to see their peers doing the same thing, and to share with their peers what they’re doing is great. Especially for a community up here because we don’t have the opportunity to play for the southern ensembles.”

Awards from the festival will be named in the upcoming weeks, and Lewis says the music department and students are holding their breath because two Thompson students’ names have been submitted.

While the students wait for that news they will be putting on the Java Jazz Coffeehouse at the end of April. Lewis says this year they’ll be performing the cafeteria of the school. “It’s a semi-annual event where we have been able to bring up Greg Gatien, who’s a professor of Jazz studies at Brandon University, and he’s a fairly regular guest, and has worked with the kids before in October. The kids are excited.”

The performances will be pieces from the Brandon festival as well as pieces students are working on for an upcoming trip to Toronto in May. “The choirs are going to perform and compete at the Festival of Music in Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto. We’re also going to be going and participating as auditors of the Music Fest Canada Nationals, so we’ll have a chance to hear from the top bands in the country, which we’re excited about,” noted Lewis.

Students travelling to Toronto will also visit the Ontario Science Centre, different museums, the CN tower, as well as the Casa Loma. Lewis says it’s a chance to play music but also experience another part of Canada, which some students may never have another chance to see.

The Java Jazz Coffeehouse is open to the community and will take place on April 25, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and that includes tea, coffee, and treats.

For more information or for ticket sales please call 204-677-6222.

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