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2c i h seR ‘ S f @etvir i. x A ¥¢ »Lact Pak %, . â€" h \ ' iz Cld io ie 4 1(1 P E~» i. ABBRii Fa L C A buvas t / l 1 s u @e e *‘(i\ . u $ k. C n H n# r wl * mt ‘% * h T (6 P â€" 1 H » -wn ; > P34 is 9 R # # . â€"â€" % D " 4# â€". | A R : h ’ t i. in ‘ m . ol } ‘ M | S C)J g i . * B . a X L : ; â€" » R R " â€" 4 x 4 oc he4 . 5 3k 7t PAGE B2 â€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16 Coral Andrews Chronicle Special There‘s nothing like the sound of a big brass band going through ‘neat new sounds.‘ Except the sound of eight big brass bands going through neat new sounds. And what a tregt it was in Band Spectacular ‘87 recently performed at Centre in the Square. From classical to contemporary strains, friends, relatives, family and peers had a unique opportunity to enjoy eight area secondary school bands, including Eastâ€" wood, Glenview Park, Forest Heights, Galt, Southwood, Bluevale, Waterloo and Waterlooâ€"Oxford. The idea for Band Spectacular ‘87 originally stemmed from Waterloo Counâ€" ty Board of Education music coâ€"ordinator Desmond Tyrrell and the secondary school music teacher association. ‘"‘We had always been looking for a vehicle to show or set forth these bands so more people could hear them. About that time the Centre started up, and we have been playing every year since." But not everybody at once!!! ‘‘We‘re only able to get half our bands on stage, so every year we alternate. We always have people that want to play each time. The idea is very popular with the teachers and the students who get a big thrill out of a big hall like this," said Tyrrell, who also serves as official master of ceremonies. "I guess the concept sparked from It‘s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Waterloo public Iibrarx thanks to students from elementary schools across Waterioo. total of 184 pieces of art depicting winter and Christmas scenes are on display in the Chidiren‘s department of the main branch. The Delightful talent showcased in Centre‘s Band Spectacular hearing the quality of the bands in Waterloo County. When we saw the opportunity to put them in a hall like this, we thought we‘d take the gamble. We break even every year. But money is not our prime purpose. We want to get these young people to play, to hear one another, and also play in a large massed band, with an outside conductor who is a real expert in his field," said Tyrrell. Kâ€"W Symphony‘s Raffi Armenian guest conducted one year, as did Bobby Harriot of Toronto Musicians Union. This year special guest conductor was professor James H. White, coâ€"ordinator of Fine Arts at Faculty of Education for Univerâ€" sity of Western Ontario. White is a trumpet major, an acclaimed cellist, and adjudicator, who has worked nationally and internationally. Highlights in the dazzling second half were Themes From Alzo Sprach Zaraâ€" thrusta (Strauss) a.k.a. 2001, Space Odesâ€" sey, no doubt a thrill for these promising young players with a particularly noteâ€" worthy brass section. The second Massed Band climax was Jay Chattaway‘s Spanish Fever, razor sharp in every stanza. With its crisp clear tone this piece was good enough for symphony status. But earlier that afterâ€" noon 420 kids were milling about Centre in the Square, practicing their parts and All eight schools were impressed by White‘s input, and played beautifully under his direction in the Massed Band segment. BUDDING YOUNG ARTISTS fending off "opening night‘" butterflies. Kudos to awardâ€"winning Southwood Secondary School for a fabulous interpreâ€" tation of Michael Sweeney‘s Festa Espaâ€" nol, which most of the kids also agreed was one of the best. In the Waterloo contingent, Bluevale and WCI also deserve honorable mention for their contributions. Bluevale‘s reperâ€" toire included Rossini‘s immortal Pastoâ€" ral and Allegro, better known as the William Tell Overture, and band stanâ€" dard Colonel Bogey (Kenneth Afford) featuring guest â€" conductor â€" Tammy McMath. Both pieces were wellâ€"paced and aurally pleasing. _ Waterloo also scored with Washington Post March (Sousa/Fennell) and magestic selection Jubileus (Edmondson). Waterloo solo players Mark Penner, trumpet, and Leslie Buck, oboe, needn‘t have worried about night fright. ‘"Last year we had a really good time," saMuck who has been playing oboe four yedfs. "It‘s a really good experience. We‘re getting to play with other stuâ€" dents. I like that because in class I don‘t have anyone to play with. There are no other oboes. So it‘s good to perform with other players." j Waterloo‘s Mark Penner has been playing trumpet since Grade 7 and did a fine solo in Jubileus, big, bright, selfâ€"asâ€" ‘‘That‘s about the only part I have to be nervous about. I don‘t think I‘ve ever played a solo in front of this many people," said Penner, laughing. Penner schools involved include Sandowne, Elizabeth Ziegier, Brighton, Sir Edgar Bauer, Harold Wag:er, Keatsway, Empire and Our Lady of Lourdes. The works will on display until the first week in January. Christine Pelierin photos January. also plays piano and greatly enjoys working each season with a different guest conductor. Pat Simpson of Bluevale finds the hardest thing about her instrument is playing it loud enough. There are only two trombones in the school band. Playâ€" ing this brass piece for five years, trombone wasn‘t her first choice. Megan Shortreed, also from Bluevale and also a member of the Centre‘s School for the Performing Arts: "Jennifer‘s solo is wonderful ... My favorite Christmas song is Hark the Herald Angels Sing, because there‘s a high G on the piccolo and it‘s really neat and loud." "I started out on French Horn, but I didn‘t like it. The French Horn has filler parts, and these are hard. On trombone you have more of your own part to play." Jennifer Gertridge, Bluevale, said: "I always loved the flute. I‘ve been taking lessons for four years. In the William Tell Overture I do a solo." All these bands were really neat and loud. Each ohe had its special moment in the Centre spot as proud teachers, paâ€" rents and fellow playing peers looked on. These kids may someday be the nation‘s top players. It was wonderful to see such strong community support, in yet another fine area arts presentation that simply continues to prove that Waterloo County has some of the best young talent on the Southern Ontario map. There‘s always a new challenge every