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Ignite musical imagination at Comox Valley Concert Band and Choir Festival

The event is set for Nov. 18 to 20.
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From Nov. 18 to 20, the 28th annual Comox Valley Concert Band and Choir Festival is being hosted by School District 71. Photo submitted

This Nov. 18 to 20 rejuvenate your soul and ignite your imagination with musicians from across Vancouver Island at the 28th annual Comox Valley Concert Band and Choir Festival, hosted by School District 71.

Through their commitment to the arts, SD 71, it’s teachers and dedicated sponsors have been able to sustain music programs and events that have typically been cut back or eliminated from schools due to budget cuts and more diverse programming.

With the continued support of long-time sponsors like Long & McQuade and Tapestry Music, the Comox Valley Band Festival is not only surviving but thriving.

This year, Tapestry Music, a Victoria-based music company, has partnered with Yamaha to provide a brand-new full percussion backline for the festival.

“Their contribution allows students to play on brand-new equipment and have access to percussion instruments that local schools do not even own but are often in the music scores. It is a real step forward for our festival,” states Jennifer Riley, SD71 fine arts lead teacher.

When long-time supporter of SD71 Music Programs John Larsen, of Larsen Music, closed his business in the summer of 2017, Tapestry Music stepped in.

For a company that is not local, Tapestry has been a significant supporter of our School District Festival and SD71 students.

Not only do they contribute financially to the festival, but they also hold workshops for beginner band students in the school district in June to help them make educated choices when selecting their instruments, and they support the Head Start program held every fall where students learn about their instruments.

It is the continued support of such philanthropic companies like Tapestry Music that help the arts remain a vital and thriving part of our local school district.

We invite you to come and enjoy what our Island community of arts supporters has managed to maintain and build.

The event will feature the choral portion of the Festival at Comox Pentecostal Church starting from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Mr. Frank Lee from Vancouver will be our clinician for the day. He is well known in choral circles as an educator, director, and clinician.

On Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, the festival will move to the Sid Williams Theatre.

Our clinicians, Alexis Silver from Winnipeg and Gareth Jones from Calgary will work with groups throughout the day starting at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday morning and 10 a.m. Wednesday.

A detailed schedule of when local high schools are participating can be found on the SD71 school website under the Fine Arts drop-down menu. Admission is by donation and people are welcome to come and go throughout the day.