KAMSACK — The Kamsack Comprehensive Institute Junior and Senior bands showed the public the results of a year’s efforts.
Friends, family and community members made up the audience at the Kamsack Playhouse for the event.
The concert, held on June 16, began with the junior band playing the two selections, Haydn Seek Surprise and Popcorn Prelude, which they had prepared for the Moose Jaw music festival on their trip in early May.
The first track is “a play on a work by Franz Joseph Haydn, where he puts some surprises into the music,” said KCI music teacher Darren Kitsch.
“This group, Grade 5s, they started the year not even knowing the names of these instruments,” remarked Kitsch, but now “we are very excited, we can play multiple parts at the same time. And we can balance and blend and do all that stuff that makes music music and it makes it come alive.”
The senior band played a wide variety in their ten selections, including Toreador Tango, When the Saints Go Marching, Cotton Eyed Joe, and Rippling Watercolours.
“I am very proud of the work they have in this year,” said Kitsch, “you have made a difference not only to the quality of the band, but you have also made this year a very special year of music making, and I have enjoyed working with you to help you grow as musicians”.
Frances Bagsit and Mia Morck won the Grade 5 Most Improved Award. Marley Burrows won the Band Merit Award. Keeva Ferril won Most Improved for Grade 6, Rose Tallmen won the Band Merit Award.
For the Senior Band awards, Most Improved was Jackson Burrows (Grade 8), Kal Severight (Grade 9), Daztyn Tourangeau (Grade 10), Hanna Talbot (Grade 11) and Aliyah Cymbalisty (Grade 12).
The Young Band Award was given to Creedance Cadotte and Cazzik Keshane.
Band Merit award was given to Karisa Kitsch (Grade 8), Meri Burback (Grade 9), Daztyn Tourangeau (Grade 10), Summer Erhardt (Grade 11), and Aliyah Cymbalisty (Grade 12).
Honour Band awards, in recognition of students in Senior Band who were recommended and chosen to play in the University of Regina Honour Band, were given to Aliyah Cymbalisty, Cassious Cadotte, Kennah Kitsch, Karisa Kitsch, Halo Tourangeau and Kal Severight.
Community Band awards were given to students who played in the Yorkton Community Band this year. Kitsch plays in the band himself, and goes along with Aliyah Cymbalisty, Cassious Cadotte, Halo Tourangeau, Kal Severight, Karisa Kitsch and Kennan Kitsch every Tuesday.
Kennan Kitsch and Halo Tourangeau were chosen for the Provincial Honour band in Saskatoon this coming November after submitting a blind audition. Cassious Cadotte will also be attending the Provincial Honour Choir by recommendation.
On June 12, the senior band played for the Music Together program at KCI. This program allows children with special needs to enjoy live music and participate in fun activities, like guided singing and dancing.
Kitsch praised the effect the program can have, saying, “I think live music is one of those things that we don’t participate in very much anymore, or even get a chance to hear sometimes.”
