May 2008

 

Once again the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Int’l Band and Choral Festival was a smashing success, thanks to the great bands and choirs that took part and the marvelous clinicians who shared their expertise with all of us.  The band students had great clinics with our varied array of teachers/performers.  Juno nominee Jodi Proznick and jazzman extraordinaire Tom Dowden were twin bundles of energy over at the jazz venue.  Bob Gibson proved to be the expert on English suites for band - and a great story teller.  Also, it was good to have former Moose Javian Russ Whitehead here as a clinician.  Many students have said the clinicians and the festival itself were “awesome” and a wonderful learning experience!

Congratulations to the FCHS/AHSFA  Jazz Band (that stands for Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts) from Okotoks, Alberta under the direction of Nicole Hounjet for being chosen to perform at Tuesday’s Night Show.  Cynthia Peyson and DMCice (Daniel McIntyre Collegiate) from Winnipeg sang several vocal jazz numbers to open Wednesday’s Night Show.  Great job guys, and we hope you come again!

Our Night Show guest performers were the Air Command Band from 17 Wing, Winnipeg back for an encore performance after their superb shows of 2007.  Wow!!  That’s what everyone said all evening.  One visiting director said “I haven’t laughed that hard at a concert band concert in some time.  The evening concert was fantastic and enjoyed by both our band and choral students.“  The Concert Band and the Stage Band (Rhythm in Blue) gave us two dynamite shows played to a sold out house each night!  We can’t thank the Air Command Band enough for again coming to our festival.  Special thanks to Sgt. Jeff Cooper and Sgt. Benjamin Trowell for their organizational skills in planning and preparation.  You are a delight to work with!

A big thank you to Lorne Cardinal, a.k.a. Sgt. Davis Quinton from “Corner Gas” who performed MC duties Tuesday evening.  Also, sincere thank to Jeff Beesley, director of several “Corner Gas” episodes who arranged for Lorne to be a part of our Festival.  And we’re always happy to have Dan Reynish, host of CBC Radio One Weekend Edition to MC our Wednesday evening show.  He has become a regular  and a favorite.

Next year……..we will welcome you for our 60th Anniversary celebrations May 12,13,14, 2009.  We found the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday arrangement worked very well for all concerned. 

Keep checking our website for new developments.  The online registration worked well for the most part and I think everyone found it very handy.  Thank you to the music directors who have completed the online survey for us in 2007 and 2008.  It showed that our Festival brings about $500,000 into the city of Moose Jaw during those three days in May.

I hope you all have fantastic year-end concerts followed by a relaxing, rejuvenating summer, and another trip to Moose Jaw next May.  Thanks for coming!!

Sharon Penner, Chairman
Moose Jaw Kinsmen Int’l Band and Choral Festival