On Wednesday, March 2nd the New Westminster and District Concert Band performed at the Vancouver Kiwanis Concert Band Festival for the seventh consecutive year. The 2011 Festival was held in a new venue – Bethany Baptist Church in Queensborough – and the Band worked hard to adjust to new acoustics and a new seating arrangement dictated by available space.
The Band’s performance list included: “The Ayres of Agincourt”, by Richard Meyer; “Silence Overwhelmed”, a unique and challenging new work by Brian Balmages; and one of John Barnes Chance’s signature compositions, “Variations on a Korean Folk Song”.
Members of the Band are dedicated to continued musical growth and the achievement of performance excellence. Given this common goal, the Kiwanis experience is invaluable. Taped adjudication, provided by Wendy Grasdahl, has already proven very helpful as the Band uses the Festival adjudications and clinic as a catalyst for building on the ensemble’s strengths and focusing attention on those elements of performance that require ongoing development. Wendy also provided a brief clinic following the clinic provided by Dr. Gerald King. A former member of the New Westminster and District Band, Dr. King stated that he had not heard the Band perform for quite a number of years and that he “was looking forward to the clinic”. His clinic was packed with practical hints as well as ideas and suggestions that will provide food for thought for many rehearsals to come. All in all, the Kiwanis Festival, as it always does, provided an important opportunity for us to learn and progress together.
The Band was awarded a “Gold” standard by the adjudicators.