Some young musicians are gearing up to show off their musical prowess to the Lloydminster community.
Three bands from Lloydminster Comprehensive High School will play on the main stage at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Thursday Nov. 24.
Emily Davies with Band 10 plays the alto-sax. Her group is playing Fragile which is composed with mental health as its musical focus and also Hypnotic Fireflies which brings a percussion feel as it uses several percussive instruments that are not traditional to concert band.
Davies enjoys maths and science, as well as the music of Nirvana and relishes the passion of being in a band.
“I just really enjoy playing it (music) for the fun of it. It’s a lot of teamwork with the other instruments.
Music teacher Stephen Davis has been at the school over the last three years and is pleased that they finally have regular sessions without the health restrictions of the last two-years.
The concert which starts at 7 p.m. will feature the senior and jazz bands, says Davis.
“We are going to be doing a bunch of jazz standards, everybody is going to be taking solos. And then we also have the senior band, they are doing two-pieces as well. The first one is Sevilla by Isaac Albéniz. He is a Spanish piano player and it’s an arrangement of one of his pieces from Suite Española. The other piece that we are doing is Sleep which is a composition of Eric Whitacre.”
That selection is a choral piece arranged for a wind ensemble, adds Davis.
Grade 10 student Declyn Getzinger plays the euphonium and valve trombone. He enjoys maths and arts and is looking forward to concert night with his peers.
“It’s about the group playing. Everyone here knows each other – and it allows for teamwork and friendship.”
Allowing for soloists and improv music from the Jazz band, the show should last about an hour on Thursday night, says Davis.