We are doing a double feature this week with two different posts. Wesley is a busy place. Enjoy!
This year, our Senior Band has had a lot of fun continuing to learn how to play as a large ensemble and play some challenging music. This is our second year of having the band back after the Covid-19 pandemic and the students have shown great enthusiasm and determination. This year, we have 62 students in grade six through eight who have committed to coming to before-school practices since October, and their diligence has paid off! We have been preparing three songs to perform at the Spring Concert and our Wesley musicians have done a fabulous job learning the music and some newer notes, as well as learning how to play various dynamics, tempos, and how to balance their sound with the other sections in the band. They have come together wonderfully as a group and we have a lot of fun on Tuesday mornings.
This past Friday, May 31, we were pleased to have the Durham Christian High School Concert Band and Jazz Band visit Wesley, along with their music teacher, Mr. tMannetje. These ensembles treated our whole school to a short concert, and then our Senior Band had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with Mr. T and his high-school students, making an almost 90-piece band!
He worked with our students on two of our spring concert pieces, encouraging them to listen to one another and to follow the conductor. He was very encouraging towards our Senior Band and was impressed at their sound and technique. He and his students had a great time visiting Wesley and we look forward to perhaps more collaborations in the future.
The Senior Band looks forward to performing at the Spring Concert in a couple weeks and showcasing all their hard work!