High school and elementary band students shared the spotlight Tuesday at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School’s year-end concert.
The concert, which drew 150 people from the community, featured PSO’s jazz and tour bands and the elementary school combined band.
“Band is such a rehearsal and performance-based class and it’s so nice to have a performance that we’re working towards,” said band teacher Jasmine Kreschuk. “It’s also really nice for the community to hear and see what these kids are working so hard on throughout the course of the year.”
Kreschuk said her students were proud to showcase their accomplishments, and the concert was especially meaningful to the high school graduates. Alto-sax player and 2022 grad Sarah Carter said that she’s fallen in love with performing as part of a band since moving to 100 Mile House four years ago from Surrey.
“This is a really small town so I didn’t know what to expect but honestly I think we have one of the best band programs around,” Carter said. “We have a very dedicated group of people. We really rely on each other within the music and outside of it.”
Carter said it was great to end her school year performing with her band family and setting an example for the elementary musicians who studied band at the high school this year.
The Grade 6-7 band program was relocated to the high school to provide consistency and enhance the musical instruction the students received, Kreschuk said in a letter last year.
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About 45 students from 100 Mile House, Horse Lake and Mile 108 elementary schools were bussed to PSO each week to take the hour-long after-school lesson from Kreschuk.
Kreschuk had previously taught elementary school band during school hours.
“I thought it was really nice for the elementary students to become familiar with PSO as they’re going to be transitioning here soon. They got a chance to meet some of the high school band students which really helps build a sense of community in the band program,” Kreschuk said.
Krescuk said the only downside was she only had a limited amount of time to work with the younger students each week. She said she’d like to see the program grow next year with more parents and students coming on board.
“I think we need to support our arts and our music programs. It’s important for development and because it’s offered, I really encourage families to take part in it.”
Grade 10 band student Liam Guimond, who plays the trumpet, liked having the younger musicians join the concert.
“We always want to show the elementary school kids what high school band is like so they continue with it in the future,” he said. “Starting at elementary school it’s just the basics you’re learning so it’s not the most interesting but once you get into high school you can play more complex songs that sound so much better and are more fun to play.”
At the high school level, 45 students participated in the tour band this year and 60 in Grades 8-12 band classes. Kreschuk said she hopes next year to take students on a band trip although the destination is still to be determined.
“I just feel band is such a wonderful opportunity for kids. It’s great they’re able to be part of a community within the school where everyone is supportive and encouraging of each other,” Kreschuk said. “I thought this year was a great success.”
patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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