The DRCSS Senior Concert Band and Senior Jazz Band invaded Whistler, BC last weekend to show off their stuff.
They took part in the Con Brio Festival and they did a great job showing BC how good they are.
The Senior Concert Band hit the stage on Friday and they scored 90/100 which gave them a “Gold” rating. To get a gold rating you must score at least 86.
The Senior Jazz Band hit the stage on Saturday and they were also fan favourites. They received a “Gold” rating with a score of 90/100.
“Both ensembles performed just great. The students played so well,” said Taylor Schmidt, one of the Band Directors at DRCSS. “The senior concert band played with so much emotion and feeling.”
“Our senior jazz band put on such a great show. There was a couple of band’s watching us and we got the whole place fired up,” added Schmidt. “Just the passion our groups put into their instruments was amazing to see.”
Just like anything you want to do at a high level, lots of practice is required to do so. Taking part in the Con Brio Festival was months in the making for both groups.
“The kids worked so hard from the end of February when they picked up some new music and it was a challenge and we really worked them,” said Schmidt. “We set the bar pretty high in what we wanted them to do. These groups were just really special. As soon as they step on the stage, there’s something about them that they really love it and they take it to the next level.”
“It was great to see them take this opportunity and just run with it and do such a great job,” he added. “It’s so satisfying as a teacher and a director to see them want to succeed at such a high level.”
The DRCSS was the only Manitoban competitors at the event.
The great music put on by the DRCSS will be front and centre here in Dauphin coming up soon.
On Tuesday, May 28 they will host an outdoor performance that features their concert bands. The grade 9 group, grade 10 group, and senior groups will all perform.
It will be in the front yard beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a BBQ.
On Tuesday, June 4, Jazz will be front and centre. The junior jazz band, intermediate jazz band, senior jazz band, and the DRCSS choir will perform beginning at 7:00 p.m. inside the multi-purpose room.
Both events are free of charge and there will be a silver collection.
