SD60 band program ends school year with three silver and one gold prize

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The School District 60 (SD60) band program ended the school year by bringing home three silver and one gold prizes, which they secured at various competitions. 

The Grade 7 Advanced Beginner Band got silver at the Grande Prairie and District Music Festival and the Grade 8 and 9 Junior Concert Band was awarded silver for their performance and gold in sight reading at the invitation-only MusicFest Canada Nationals in Niagara Falls. 

In addition, the program’s Grade 10, 11 and 12 Senior Concert Band brought home a silver at the Whistler ConBrio Festival. 

According to Sabrina Brooks, the SD60 band program coordinator, these competitions help students work with the “best of the best” on an international level. 

She noted the Whistler trip, which took place at the end of April, was an educational experience that brought together bands from across B.C. 

“They got to study with world-class international musicians, directors and participate in a mass band with 1,000 kids playing a piece together,” Brooks added. 

In addition, students had the chance to work one-on-one in workshops with their instruments. 

The senior concert band received silver for their performance, which was adjudicated. 

Brooks explained, “They played their pieces and they were judged by set standards by the international band community.” 

She noted the major trips of the year were the junior band’s to MusicFest Canada Nationals in Niagara Falls and the Grade 7 band’s to the Grande Prairie festival. 

The nationals, which are invitation-only, had about 9,000 band students in total and the category that the junior band performed in had about 3,000 students from across Canada.

“[The junior concert band] got a silver in their performance, which they prepared ahead of time, but they got a gold in sight reading,” she noted. 

“That is when they get a piece of music they’ve never seen before and then they get judged on how well they play.” 

To prepare for the nationals, the two middle schools met once a week to rehearse, Brooks said. 

“[For] the senior band, all the high school students got together once a week, they practice and prepare all year,” she said. “We also had the community band quite involved this year, so adults in the community came in to mentor the kids.” 

Ariel McCormick, Dr. Kearney Middle School’s new band teacher, who went with the Grade 7 Advanced Beginner Band to the Grande Prairie and District Music Festival, said they won silver at this festival. 

Brooks believes in taking kids to these competitions, as they get a wider perspective than what can be offered locally. 

“I think growing up here, we’re more of a rural small town, so taking them to see the world is really important,” she said. “I also think it gives them a chance to bond and form friendships.” 

When asked about the band’s plan for next year, she said, “Next year we’re going to Edmonton Cantando, it’s another learning festival, so just lots of opportunities to listen to professional concerts in the Winspear Centre.” 

This opportunity will give students one-on-one clinician time with experts on their instruments, as well as many workshops and learning experiences. 

In addition, the senior band will be competing at MusicFest Canada Nationals in Calgary next year. 

“We tend to do a two-year rotation with the bands, where we do one year that’s a little bit more focused on learning and growing and one year where we take them to nationals to compete and we alternate,” Brooks noted.