Manitoba
Honour Bands
Jazz Band
The MBA is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra to co-sponsor the provincial Honour Jazz Bands. The program includes three ensembles; a Senior (grade 12), Intermediate (grade 11) and Junior (up to grade 10) band. Recorded auditions are due on March 23 and a panel will select the band the following week. All rehearsals and the concert will take place in Winnipeg from June 21-23, 2013 and the final concert will be part of the Winnipeg Jazz Festival line-up. For more information and audition instructions visit http://winnipegjazzorchestra.com/education/phjb/
Concert Band
The MBA's annual provincial
honour band program (established 1976) provides an opportunity for outstanding junior, intermediate
and senior instrumentalists to gather for an enriching and inspiring
three-day concert band experience. Manitoba students are eligible
to audition for Manitoba's Honour Bands. The applicant, their
band director or private instructor must be a MBA member. Students are selected on the
strength of their recorded audition which includes
several scales and two etudes.
The Senior Honour Band (for students in grade 9-12) will be held November 2 and 7-9, 2013. The concert will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 7:30 pm at Jubilee Place (180 Riverton Avenue, WInnipeg). Adults - $10; MBA members and students grade 9 and up - $5.
The Junior Honour Band (for students up to grade 8) and Intermediate Honour Band (grade 9 & 10) will be held May 3 and & 8-10, 2014. The concert will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 7:30 pm at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church (1315 Gateway at Springfield, WInnipeg). Adults - $10; MBA members and students grade 9 and up - $5.
Those age 16-22 are encouraged to consider the Canadian Band Association's National Youth Band, a week-long event that occurs each May. The 2014 NYB audition deadline is December 1, 2013.
Senior Honour Band Report
The 2012 Senior Honour Band, under the direction of former Winnipegger Dr. Dale Lonis, performed an outstanding concert on November 3 at Jubilee Place. The students displayed a high level of individual musicianship and their hard work was commendable. This was the third time Dr. Lonis has conducted a Manitoba Honour Band, and his tremendous skills and experience were evident as he worked to create a strong and cohesive ensemble in three days. Dr. Lonis was encouraging and inspiring, while setting a high standard for the students to attain. Congratulations to Dr. Dale Lonis and to all the students!
Repertoire rehearsed and performed by the Senior Honour Band included:
• Light Cavalry Overture – Franz von Suppe (arr. Henry Fillmore)
• Sheltering Sky – John Mackey
• Windjammer – Robert Buckley
• Suite Francais (mvmts 1-3) – Darius Milhaud
• The Gallant Seventh – John Philip Sousa
The concert was opened with a excellent performance by the University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Fraser Linklater. They performed First Suite in E-flat for Military Band - “Chaconne” by Gustav Holst, Suite Dreams by Steven Bryant, and Prairie Ride and Sunset – John Estacio. Dr. Linklater asked current members of the U of M Wind Ensemble who had participated in a Manitoba Honour Band to stand, and nearly the entire ensemble rose to their feet! It was inspiration and encouragement for this year’s Honour Band members to continue their musical growth beyond high school, and a testament to the wonderful music education programs in our province.
Sincere thanks to Simone Gendron for acting as MC for the evening, and to all the many volunteers who helped make this event a success. Special thanks to Ken Epp, Fraser Linklater, Cheryl Ferguson, Wendy McCallum and all the MBA members who helped with sectional rehearsals, listening sessions, driving and supervision. Thank you to Andrew Klassen and the folks at MBCI, Kathy Byrne and Jeff Johnson at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, and the U of M Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music. Finally, the Honour Band Committee is always looking for ways to improve the Honour Band program, and welcomes any comments and suggestions. Please contact mbahonourband@shaw.ca - Jennifer Watson , Honour Band Coordinator
Junior and Intermediate Honour
Band Report
The 2012 Junior and Intermediate Honour Bands were a great success, capped by an excellent concert Saturday evening May 12 at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. Eric Marshall, the Arts Coordinator for St. James-Assiniboia School Division, conducted the Junior Honour Band while Jacquie Dawson from Vincent Massey Collegiate conducted the Intermediate Honour Band. Both conductors worked wonders with their young charges in a very short period of time. Sold out concerts and standing ovations! The concert was capped by a performance by the 2012 National Youth Band of Canada conducted by Colleen Richardson!
Repertoire performed by the Junior Honour Band included:
• One Night in Athens — David Bobrowitz
• A Night on Bald Mountain — Modeste Mussorgsky / arr. by John Higgins
• Cape Breton Lullaby — arr. by Vince Gassi
• Rites of Tamburo — Robert W. Smith
• Amen! — Frank Ticheli
Repertoire performed by the Intermediate Honour Band included:
• For the New Day Arisen — Steven Barton
• Variations on a Rollicking Tune — Jack Sirulnikoff
• Arabian Dances — Brian Balmages
• Sure on This Shining Night — Samuel Barber / arr. by Richard Saucedo
• The Trombone King March — Karl L. King / edited by John Paynter
Repertoire performed by the National Youth Band included:
• The White Rose March — John Philip Sousa
• Dusk — Steven Bryant
• Shepherd’s Hey — Percy Grainger
• Give Us This Day — David Maslanka
My sincere thanks to the many volunteers who helped make this event the success it was, especially to Cheryl Ferguson and Jennifer Watson. Special thanks are also due to St. John’s Music, Long & McQuade Music, Fort Richmond Collegiate, Mark Sawatzky and the folks at Elmwood High School, to the U of M Faculty of Music and to Teresa Lee for acting as MC. - Fraser Linklater, Honour Band Chairperson
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