SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 83 (NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP)
SD83 Bands Achieve Superior Excellence at the Okanagan Music Festival

Two SD83 bands achieved the highest standing of Superior Excellence at the Okanagan Concert Band Festival in Penticton, BC on March 12, 2024. Jackson's Grade 9/10 Concert Band and Salmon Arm Secondary's Grade 11/12 Concert Band each received this top standing in their categories. Jackson's band also received an invitation to MusicFest Canada, a by-invitation-only Canada-wide festival in Toronto from May 13-18, 2024. The invitations for Salmon Arm Secondary's (SAS's) category have not yet been announced.

The Okanagan Music Festival has been around for many years and draws a large number of Bands from the Lower Mainland and Okanagan. SD83 District Music Vice-Principal Michelle Reed, who attended the event, reported that the SD83 students performed amazingly. She said, "Congratulations to all 80 Band students who achieved excellence and made our District proud at the Okanagan Music Festival! David Izik-Dzurko and Brook Roberts did an outstanding job of preparing their ensembles to perform and compete at this level - our students are lucky to have such dedicated and high quality music teachers."

Reed shared, "I feel very strongly about the power of music and how it builds belonging and community within a school. Band is not easy. There is not instant gratification. It requires patience, resilience and a desire to continually improve oneself for the sake of the whole. It is in these incredible festival moments that we can truly celebrate the hard work and commitment of our music students. They are learning lifelong skills that will serve them well into adulthood."

The SAS Grade 11/12 Band delivered an outstanding performance of challenging B300 repertoire, earning them a Superior' Excellence rating. They had a workshop with Dr. Garreth Jones, Director of Bands at University of Calgary, who provided inspiring feedback and worked with them to reach even higher levels of musicianship.

The Jackson 9/10 Band had the opportunity to participate in a workshop led by renowned BC music educator, adjudicator, and professional trumpet player, Michael Perkins. "Mr. Perkins was astounded with their level of musicianship given that the majority of students in that band are in grade 9. Their workshop was so much fun, students were laughing, enjoying themselves all the while working on improving their musicianship," commented Reed.

Reed noted that the Jackson students were ecstatic after their performance and posed for group photos with big smiles. "One of the students was just beaming with pride after the performance and told me that it was so much fun! They knew they had just achieved something very special together as an ensemble," she added.

SD83 Music has a well-established reputation for excellence at this festival, and this year's ensembles enhanced that reputation.