A chord of friendship: Cremona School band strikes musical and friendship harmony on exchange trip
Cremona School band students have just returned from a special trip to Brandon, Manitoba, having had rich musical experiences, an opportunity to travel to another part of Canada, and make friendships with other young musicians.
Experiences Canada, a nationally registered charity that “helps young Canadians explore their country through reciprocal exchanges”, arranged for the Cremona School band to be paired with the Vincent Massey High School band, from Brandon, Manitoba.
Cremona’s band travelled to Manitoba from April 9 to 13, where the bands spent time together practicing and performing, and with Cremona’s band seeing local sights. Both bands then flew to Alberta on the same flight - “we almost took the whole airplane” says Meaghan Graham, Vincent Massey band director. Cremona’s band then hosted the Vincent Massey band for the following week.
“I really enjoyed this opportunity,” says Brooke A., a Grade 12 Cremona student. “The Vincent Massey kids were welcoming and sweet to us.”
“I liked making new friends,” says Oliver M., a Grade 10 Cremona student. “They are super nice. It’s been good to perform with them. They’re a really great band and it helps me to see where I can improve.”
“They are an incredibly skilled band,” says Brooke. “I liked seeing the way the conductor led us. Mr. Hutcheon does a great job; this gave us an opportunity to experience a different style and learn more about music.”
“I really like that Experiences Canada paired us with a band with a similar skill level,” says Oliver. “That way we can feel safe learning more.”
Both band directors signed up for the experience, and each student who participated also signed up individually. There were 17 Cremona students participating and 27 students from Vincent Massey. Both schools learned the same music and, when they were together in Manitoba and Alberta, they practiced and performed as one band.
“It’s been a great experience,” says Alex Hutcheon, Cremona band director. “Students having the opportunity to see another part of the country and to make connections with other students, based on their interest - music, has been really great.”
“It’s amazing how close the students became after 10 days together,” says Graham. “They started off not knowing each other and now they are good friends. Music brought them together.”
While in Manitoba, Cremona students toured the Brandon University School of Music, the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum, Westman Reptile Gardens, a planetarium, and the Royal Canadian Mint. In Alberta, Vincent Massey students toured Banff and Drumheller. And in both locations there were a number of rehearsals and performances, including at other Chinook’s Edge schools.
A coincidental, but happy connection is with the new Didsbury High School band teacher - Marcus Brodie. Brodie played in the Vincent Massey band when he was in high school.
Hutcheon says, “The musical world is small and connected, and that’s wonderful.”