Northlands Parkway Collegiate is joining bands and choirs across the province next month to raise funds for CancerCare Manitoba.
The Manitoba Band Association has commissioned a song called “Wave of Light” that will be performed by a mass choir/band on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature on Music Monday, raising both money and awareness for the work of CancerCare in supporting patients and medical research.
The campaign also calls on music programs outside the city to host an event of their own, and a trio of NPC teachers are taking the idea and really running with it.
The Winkler school is hosting a Wave of Light Pops Concert on Tuesday, May 5 from 6-9 p.m. featuring entertainment from their band, choir, and visual arts students.
They had originally been eyeing May the 4th—Star Wars Day— as the date for the show to coincide with the Winnipeg performance, but conflicting events at the school that night pushed it back a day.
Still, they’re sticking with the original Star Wars theme, shares organizer Eric Skoglund, who is heading up organizing alongside choral teacher Ben Kroeker and art teacher Kerwin Froese.
“We’re moving it back a day, but it’ll still be a pop concert, still themed Star Wars,” he said.
Froese, who designed the event’s poster filled with Star Wars images, has his senior arts students creating pieces inspired by the sci-fi series. They’ll be on display that night, with several of the pieces going into the raffle auction, which will be filled with prize packages courtesy of a host of local businesses.
The night will feature several school bands and choral ensembles singing a host of popular music, including, of course, a few pieces from Star Wars.
“Another piece that we’re doing too is the Avengers theme and the Lion King, things like that,” Skoglund said, noting they’re also welcoming back a few former students to perform. “Cade Zacharias, he’s in his fourth year of university for music education, he’s coming back to conduct the Lion King. And I have two students that were here in the first two years of the school opening, they’re going to come back and play clarinet in there too.”
“It’s going to be pretty epic,” noted Kroeker. “We’re getting all the different groups involved—all the bands, the guitar groups, the garage band, and then the choirs, the vocal jazz groups; there will be five vocal groups singing through the night.”
The festivities will also include snacks made by the NPC culinary arts department, a 50/50 draw, and, from 4-8 p.m., buzz cuts and express manicures for donations of $10 or more courtesy of the cosmetology program (you can book an appointment by calling 204-325-9708, though walk-ins are also welcome).
The night will culminate with a performance of “Wave of Light.”
“It’ll be something pretty magical,” Skoglund said. “We’re really hoping that the audience will get involved—it’s a multifaceted piece.”
“It’s a really cool arrangement that incorporates band, choir, and the audience, so everybody will be part of it,” noted Kroeker.
It’ll be a great night with an important cause at the heart of it all.
“For myself personally, I’ve had students come through my program that have had cancer. To have them come out the other side of it and survive it, it’s an inspiration,” Skoglund said. “So when this came up and we were talking about what we wanted to do, we thought let’s make a celebration out of it.”
“And it’s a good way for all the arts students at our school to collaborate,” added Kroeker.
“We don’t really have a goal in terms of how much money we want to raise,” noted Skoglund. “But we want to do our part to help fight against cancer.”
“It’s a good cause to get behind,” agreed Froese. “And a real-world application for students to take what they’re doing in school and apply it.”
Tickets are $10, available in advance at the school office or from students, or at the door that night. Your ticket covers the costs of admission and snacks, though you are encouraged to bring some cash along for the prize raffles. And donations above and beyond are, of course, most welcome.
The evening will be come and go, with performances running the entire three hours and plenty of opportunity to sit and chat.
“The whole goal is that you come in and you socialize,” Skoglund said. “It’s not just sit and be quiet and listen to the music.”
“Walk around, take a look at the art pieces, take a look at the raffle draw,” said Kroeker. “Go get your head shaved or your nails painted.”
If you can’t make it but still want to contribute, you can scan the QR code above to make a donation online.
“Every donation—no matter the amount—makes a difference,” Skoglund said.
