It has been almost a month now yet the standing ovations, whistles and cheers for Comox Valley Youth Music Centre's (CYMC) Shrek the Musical still reverberate in Valley hearts and souls.
The magical team of Mazey, Sterk, Burns, Hilliar and Jakubiec did it again, inspiring more than 40 teens to outdo themselves in CYMC's 2013 musical theatre production.
Everyone who touched the show — set painters and movers, seamstresses and costume fitters, prop designers and collectors — played an invaluable role and were in turn enriched by the experience.
Island Jazz, directed by Patrick MacGibbon, gave its 20 students evenings to soak in rhythms and riffs. After classes they jammed at Zocolo Cafe, performed at Simms Millennium Park and delighted jazz lovers with their final concert in lovely Filberg Park.
Mounting a classical program is always a daunting task and Steve Denroche pulled it all together for the second year running. He orchestrated the 16 faculty, 42 students and produced six concerts over a span of two weeks. Concurrently, Sarah Hagen taught her five piano students while the Klazeks of Victoria taught our young string players.
CYMC started its life with the students of the Vancouver Youth Orchestra in 1967. It is heartening to see this aspect still going strong after 46 years.