George McDougall High School’s band program is gearing up for its first live performances in two years this week, with the high school hosting its annual Christmas concerts on Dec. 16.
George McDougall band director Jordan Harris said spectators and listeners can expect “a whole plethora of tunes” on Thursday evening, including Christmas classics like Santa Got Run Over by a Reindeer, and Santa Baby. The bands will also present their takes on other holiday pieces, like Christmas Eve/Sarajevo and the Hawaiian-inspired Mele Kalimaka.
Harris said he is incredibly excited for the Mustangs musicians to showcase their talents in front of a live audience for the first time since George McDougall’s 2019 Christmas concert. He added the students have been preparing for the performances since September.
“To be able to do anything at this point, for lack of a better phrase, I'm feeling really giddy and excited,” he said. “It's just amazing that it's happening and that we're able to proceed and actually share what we have to offer.
“We've been able to do virtual concerts and that's great, but there is nothing like actually having somebody clap back at the end of a song.”
Due to the size of George McDougall’s band program – which is comprised of approximately 140 student musicians in grades 9 to 12 – Harris said the Dec. 16 concert will be split into two performances. The first group will kick off the show at 6 p.m., while the second cohort will play at 7:30 p.m.
“We'll have our junior band, our sax quartet, our midnight Mustangs jazz combo, and our big jazz band, which we just call the big band because there's around 50 or 60 kids,” he said. “And then we have our senior band, which is our big, premier group.”
Among the students most excited to perform is Eden Regier, a Grade 12 musician who plays everything from piano to the saxophone, while also being a member of the school’s percussion section. Regier said she has been waiting for a long time to be able to play in front of an in-person audience.
“For myself, honestly, it feels like a [resumption] of routine, since we haven't had it for so long,” she said. “It's really exciting and it kind of gives a purpose during the holiday season. I feel whenever Christmas comes around, I always want to be playing music. With that missing last year, it's awesome that it's back this year.”
The multi-instrument musician said she is passionate about music and has been playing since she was a Grade 5 student. She added her favourite aspect of the George McDougall band program is having the chance to learn and play a variety of musical styles.
Regier said music has helped her through the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the Mustangs band program acts as her “escape.”
“I do feel like there is definitely a power in music,” Regier said. “I definitely feel that especially during challenging times, music is a key element that can help people during those challenging times. When everything is going wrong, I definitely feel music is a place where I can go to – especially within the George McDougall band program.”
Due to continued precautions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris said attendance at the Dec. 16 show will be limited to family members of the performers. However, he said the band recorded their songs at the Polaris Centre for the Performing Arts in Balzac last week, and a video of those sessions will be posted on the George McDougall YouTube page.
In addition to those videos, Harris said he is also exploring the idea of live-streaming the performances on Dec. 16.
As someone who is passionate about music, Regier said she is most looking forward to the performance aspect of the upcoming concert.
“It's kind of like an adrenaline that is really hard to explain,” she said.
“This is an awesome opportunity that myself, especially as a Grade 12 student this year, didn't think I'd get to have. Seeing the other graduates [last year] not get to have that experience, I’m very grateful and thankful to have this opportunity once again.”
