Selkirk College Music Students Celebrate with Year-End Showcase
By Bob Hall
Students from the Contemporary Music & Technology Program are ready to share their talent and passion as they take the stage at Spiritbar in downtown Nelson on April 18 for their year-end showcase.
Students have been in preparation over the last few weeks of the Winter Semester, creating and perfecting funky and groovy sounds that the audience will have a hard time forgetting. They are excited to celebrate and show off their hard work and dedication by providing people a memorable night filled with fantastic music.
”Giving our students a real life experience in the creation of shows, especially a show of this calibre, is so important for the start of their careers,” says Selkirk College music program instructor Laura Landsberg. “I can speak on behalf of all the teachers when I say we are all very proud of the students and what they have accomplished and created.”
Each ensemble is managed by a Selkirk College instructor, who has put countless hours into organizing and mentoring the students to create an unforgettable show. They will be joining the students on stage for energetic performances exploring a mixture of genres.
To kick the night off Sizzle Boots will keep you hopping over the coals and embers of their original, at times edgy songs. With Lindsay Elzinga, Cal Letterman-Gabura, Ryan Tommy, Matt Flank, Tiago de Renor, Aja Banks and A.J. Cunanan, this group is led by instructor Melody Diachun.
The Funk Babies are no strangers to the groove. Rumour has it that they were born into the pocket and on that day they became permanent residents. This band featuring Tessa Frey-McLean, Kurt McQuaid, Ross Nordell, and instructor Laura Landsberg on vocals, Logan Contino and Zach Thompson on guitar, Sheldon Nordell on drums, A.J. Cunanan on bass, Jonah Miller on the keyboards, and Max Smeltzer on saxophone.
Ensemble XIII will be serving up the trademark brew of quirky new pop and chill. Always fine. Always fresh. On vocals are Megan Abel, Dari Marshall, Jonah Morris and Marybeth Stenhouse; drums by Nicholas Dicastri, bass by Dean Bass, guitars played by Ryan O’Gorman and Cole Senger and keyboards are played by instructor Havelock John Tucker.
The young songwriters of Senseis Of The North bring you a set of all-original indie pop to rock your heart and soul. With Moe Yoshida, Amon Carpenter, Ilan Peimer, Gabriel Smith, Jonny Bono Dudar, Tom McIsaac, Aja Banks and A.J. Cunanan this group is led by instructor Melody Diachun.
Closing the night will be Count Seven. This band tickles your ears and takes you on a musical journey of sweet guitar licks and soul soothing bass lines which dance in time with complex drum rhythms and decisive vocals. Shannon Sargent is on vocals, Darren Mahe on bass and vocals, Jeremy Lerch on guitar, Harrison Cutcher playing guitar and keys, Viral Bhagat on guitar and Isaac Klassen-Wright playing drums.
Selkirk College’s Year-End Celebration Show starts at 9 p.m., with doors opening at 8:30 p.m. The cover charge will be $10 or $5 for students and all proceeds will go toward Music Student scholarships.
