The revival of the band program at Elm Creek School reached a major milestone this May as students took part in their first band festival experience in Moose Jaw.
Josie is a grade 8 student who plays the tuba. She was recognized at the festival for being one of the few tuba players
The Grades 7-9 band travelled to the Moose Jaw Band & Choral Festival on May 11 and 12, an opportunity band director Lane Collins had envisioned when he began rebuilding the program.
Collins explained the original ECS band program ended in 2014 and was officially restarted this past fall.
With support from the community, administration and parents, Collins described the revival as a challenge due to limited percussion and wind instruments, but said that did not stop him from enriching Elm Creek students through music education.
The students recently performed at the Moose Jaw Band & Choral Festival, where they worked with festival clinicians Sigurd Johnson and Kathie Van Lair.
Collins said attending the festival was a “dream come true” and that he could not have been prouder of the students.
“Attending a festival lets our students see the ‘big picture,’” he added. “They see other bands performing and see themselves as something bigger than themselves. They get to see how music really does make a difference in the lives of so many young people.”
The clinicians provided encouragement and positive feedback to the students while recognizing several highlights from the ECS performance, including the program’s creative use of handbells and the participation of Grade 8 tuba player Josie, who was among the few tuba players attending the festival.
Josie said she loved the entire band trip, but her favourite part was the concert, along with receiving special recognition.
“Honestly, it felt good,” she added. “I feel like, to some people, the tuba is an underrated instrument, so it felt really good.”
She encourages other students interested in joining a band program to take the opportunity.
“It’s so fun to learn a new instrument and get into a new hobby. It might seem hard at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s as light as the breeze.”
Beyond the musical performances, the trip provided students with a variety of learning experiences. The group enjoyed an evening concert featuring Ladies of the Prairie and the Mail Order Band at the Mae Wilson Theatre following a meal in downtown Moose Jaw.
On the second day, students explored the city’s famous tunnels, taking part in interactive experiences that examined different periods of history. They also had time to visit local shops before enjoying lunch at Crescent Park, where they listened to performances from other school bands in an outdoor amphitheatre setting.
Looking ahead, Collins said he hopes the band program continues to thrive and is excited to see where it goes next. In the long term, he hopes to have both high school and junior band programs operating at the same time.
