The Moose Jaw Adult Concert Band formed as an outlet for musicians itching to play again, for no reason other than because they enjoy it, and once again they will be showcasing their talent at their annual Spring Concert on May 11.
This year, the concert is featuring some different music from their usual concert band material.
“There are a number of movie themes, a number of 1940s big band themes and a few other more recent things. A little bit of Disney, just for flavor,” said artistic director and conductor Darryl McKinnon. “We've done mostly serious music, like serious concert band music [in the past]. And this year, from a player's perspective it's significant but it's not typical concert band repertoire.”
McKinnon is looking forward to the concert, as he does every year. The purpose of the band, at its conception, was just to provide an outlet to play for those who haven’t anywhere else to do so, but the concert is something he finds the group enjoys working towards.
“When the band was formed, it was just about playing music. It wasn't about concerts or anything,” said McKinnon. “The first year we didn't plan on doing the concert. But then we had music, so we did a concert. . . if you've prepped it, you should play it, I guess. It seemed like kind of the thing to do.”
“The concept of the program really should appeal to [many],” added Jim Mitchell, musician and fellow founder of the group.
Each year, the group gathers in February to practice together, in the camaraderie of music. McKinnon estimates there to be around 60 musicians that take part, although the numbers do fluctuate the closer it gets to concert time — because not everyone performs in the show.
He finds that there is a number of musicians in this town, and there aren’t many places to play outside of the high school band scene anymore.
“We created a place for people to play,” said McKinnon. “So people can come in and if they haven't played for a long time, that's okay. Play what you can play, have fun playing it, and sometimes it turns into concert material.”
“We want to provide an outlet for after high school,” said Mitchell. “We want to be that next thing. There is something, there is life after high school and that's what we are.”
The band has musicians from across the board: people who played in the Lions Band for years, music teachers, people who haven’t been in a band in decades. The goal is just to relax, have fun, and enjoy playing music.
“We have band teachers, music teachers, but then we have a whole lot of people who are other things but they want to keep doing music,” said Mitchell, before adding that one member is a doctor from England, whose parents will be visiting during the concert and will get to see her play for the first time since she was in school.
“We have people who haven't played for a long time, and then they sit down and we throw a piece at them, and they say, 'I'll never be able to play this,' and then they do,” said McKinnon.
The show is taking place at the Mae Wilson Theatre, and tickets are $10, available through the Cultural Centre’s website or by calling the box office at (306) 693-4700.
