Students involved in R.D. Parker Collegiate's jazz band had the chance to learn more about their form of art from Brandon University professor of music Greg Gatien, who was in Thompson for three days last week.
Gatien decided to come up to Thompson because he had worked with the students last October in Flin Flon at the Norman Jazz Festival.
"I loved them!" he exclaimed. "I've known about the program up here for quite some tome, having worked with Wally Itson's students in a variety of places. But hearing them and working with them is so much fun."
The Grades 8 to 12 jazz band students put on a performance at Thompson First Baptist Church and then did a second performance at the Letkemann Theatre the next day. Band teacher Kevin Lewis says the students found the experience of working with Gatien to be a "phenomenal" one.
Gatien says that the music students in Thompson are the cream of the crop on a national - and international - scale.
"It really is high quality music. On a technical note the students are proficient, on a musical level they're really thoughtful. They listen really hard to what's going on around them which is really exceptional," he says. "I work with students across the country and into the United States, and in terms of musicianship, the students here in Thompson are as good as anywhere. They make really informed musical decisions, they listen ferociously and then the other aspect of it - which is also unique and I love so much - is that they really care and support one another. If someone struggles with getting something played correctly or feels like they didn't play something well they've got the support of the other students, and if someone does play something well there's not any jealousy; they just really seem to care about one another."
Gatien says he'd come back to Thompson to work with the students any time, and is looking forward to hearing them play during the Brandon Jazz Festival next month. The students will also be heading to Edmonton in April to take part in the international classical and jazz music Cantando Festival.
