For music enthusiasts, this must be the most wonderful time of the year - a series of five concerts over the next nine days.
The action gets underway tonight, says R.D. Parker Collegiate band teacher Kevin Lewis, with a concert in the Letkemann Theatre at 7 p.m. (the start time for all five shows) headlined by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra from Winnipeg. The opening act contains a few familiar faces, as the Thompson Community Band will show off some of their more advanced repertoire.
Tomorrow night, the focus shifts to the R.D. Parker Trojan Gym as high school ensembles team up to present R.D. Parker's 26th-annual Cabaret. The Adrenaline Jazz Ensemble, Senior Choir, Vocal Jazz, and Senior Concert Band will all take part in Cabaret, performing works from a variety of musicals - Lewis says that The Little Mermaid, Chicago, Grease, Annie, and Evita are just a few of the musicals to be sampled at Cabaret. Tickets for this event are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.
The annual Music Teachers Concert takes place June 7, back in the Letkemann. Music teachers from R.D. Parker will partner with community members for various solo, duet, and quartet performances, and again the Thompson Community Band will be featured.
On June 8, R.D. Parker's jazz band and choir students wrap up the school year with their year-end concert, featuring performances from the Junior High Choir, Junior Concert Choir, and Junior Jazz Ensemble. They're followed on June 9 by the Year-End Concert Band Concert, which Lewis says will feature concerts bands from Grade 6 through Grade 9 performing music from all over the world, including Japan, England, and Egypt. Both these shows are in the Letkemann Theatre.
