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Jennifer Geens
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 28/04) - The music has never been better than it was this year at Sir John Franklin high school.

"I think this is the year when the program peaked," said music teacher Bill Gilday.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Brendan Callas, a member of both the jazz and concert bands, won this year's Bill Gilday award, which goes to the student with the most well-rounded musical skills. Callas also plays piano. - Jennifer Geens/NNSL photo



The Sir John jazz band, concert band and choir have been in high demand this year, playing gigs around town. The jazz band even played a night at a downtown bar.

They'll still be busy into early June -- the jazz band is booked to play at a private party on June 4, and at Somba K'e park on June 8 for a seniors' picnic.

All three groups are slated to play at a barbecue at City Hall on June 6.

After that, the present incarnation of the bands will dissolve as the Grade 12 students who are the most experienced members of the groups move on.

Five graduating members of the concert band took time out of rehearsal Tuesday afternoon to reflect on the role music has played in their school lives.

At Mildred Hall, Brendan Callas' elementary school, choosing which instrument to play was easy.

"They wrote four instruments on the board and you put your name under one," said Callas, who plays trombone.

Each instrument had its own attractions.

"I picked the one with the most buttons," said Duncan Hamre, who plays clarinet.

"I wanted to play with the slide," said Andrew Wittlinger, who ultimately chose the trombone.

At William MacDonald middle school, Corey Paquin tried trumpet, clarinet and trombone, before settling on the flute. Then when he got to Sir John Franklin, there weren't any extra flutes. That's how he ended up playing the drums.

Not everyone in the band has been playing music for years. Som Pannichet, an exchange student from Thailand, couldn't read music when she arrived at the beginning of the school year. But she wanted to be part of the band so she plays percussion as well.

"I don't worry about notes," she said.

The benefits of a musical education may be broad, but the students agreed one of the best parts about being in the band is playing for the community. Last week the bands and the choir donned new ties in the school colours for their spring tour of Yellowknife's elementary schools.

"The kids were in complete awe, especially this year," said Callas. "We sounded great."

Callas and Hamre have been learning music from Bill Gilday since they were Grade 5 students at Mildred Hall. They said Gilday has come a long way in organizing bands since they were in Grade 9.

Practice makes perfect

Gilday said he has scheduled more practices in the past two years.

"I don't think you can get much more out of high school groups without asking for more of their time," said Gilday.

But the practice pays off, especially for the 17-member jazz band.

"They can really blow," said Gilday.

"The quality of their music is way beyond most students their age."

Though he's not losing all of his top musicians with the outgoing Grade 12s, he is losing his strongest trombone players. Gilday said he might have to play first trombone himself next year, since he doesn't have anyone ready to step in.

Trombone player Callas won this year's $300 Bill Gilday award for the most well-rounded music student. Besides trombone, Callas also plays piano and he plays with his dad Chic in the band Spruce on Top.

Callas, who along with Wittlinger, is also in the jazz band, answered one burning question -- how do they read their music while wearing sunglasses?

The sunglasses mystery

"I have never actually worn the sunglasses," said Callas.

"Usually the gyms are brightly lit. But Lucille's was too dark," he said of the time they played at the cabaret.

To the future band members, the students had a few words of advice.

"I wish I'd practised more," said Callas.

"When you're in Grade 9, the music's hard and everybody plays better than you. Stick with it," said Hamre.