Killarney Guide

Canada Day 152 Concert takes place 2 p.m., July 1, at the Shamrock Centre  

BY TIM LAWSON

Starting in late April, the second edition of the KCI Alumni Band began rehearsing.  

After a recruitment process of four months, the local musicians – as well as a few from out of town – cracked open their cases, and were ready, willing, and able to get started.

The first edition of the band was formed back in the spring of 2017, with the sole purpose of presenting a concert featuring KCI alumni from KCI for the Canada 150 celebration on July 1.

The Alumni Band, consisting of just under forty musicians, performed five pieces, as well as ‘O Canada’.  In addition, the concert program was augmented by several soloists, and small ensembles of alumni.  

A standing-room-only audience filled the Shamrock Centre, and the resulting silver collection raised approximately $900 for the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Arts Council.

Many members of the 2017 group expressed an interest in doing another alumni band sometime down the road. 

Fast forward to 2019, and here we are again.  A suggestion was made by several of the musicians to do a concert this time featuring just the band.  

This, at first, seemed like a rather daunting task, as now in addition to ‘O Canada’, twelve pieces would be needed for the concert.

To help fulfill this requirement, a jazz band has been formed out of musicians in the concert band, and they will be performing a set of four pieces at the Canada Day concert. In addition, the concert band will perform another eight selections. 

In all, thirty-five musicians, hailing from both Manitoba and Saskatchewan, will be featured in the concert.  

The enthusiasm and dedication of the musicians is nothing short of miraculous, with some driving long distances to attend rehearsals, and some even using their work holiday time to attend. 

And long, once-a-week rehearsals since the end of April, combined with many hours of private practice, have contributed to two fine sounding ensembles.  

During the concert, two KCI alumni students, as well as former KCI band director Tim Lawson, will share the role of conductor. Meagan Lawson, current KCI band director, and Michelle Archibald, a recent graduate of the Brandon University School of Music (who will be teaching French Immersion elementary music and band in Île des Chênes), will also conduct.

While the main purpose of the Canada Day 152 Concert is to celebrate Canada Day in our community, it will also be a fundraiser for the KCI Band Program, and the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Arts Council. These two groups are co-sharing sponsorship of the concert.

A collection of monetary donations will be taken at the door for these two valuable community groups.

The Canada Day 152 Concert will be presented at 2 p.m., July 1, 2019, in the community hall of the Shamrock Centre.  

ALUMNI BAND’S BACK – Members of the KCI Alumni Band have been busy practicing in preparation for their big Canada Day performance at the Shamrock Centre.

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTO