Jayda Noyes, Daily Herald
For the Prince Albert Concert Band’s director, Canada’s symbols of Tim Hortons, maple syrup and cold weather have exceptional composers hiding behind them.
On Sunday, the band is putting on ‘Oh! Canada,’ a show consisting of works all by Canadian composers or inspired by the country’s places and people.
Director Kayleigh Skomorowski said the idea came from her studies.
“I was working on my masters this summer and did a lot of work on the score study of a lot of Canadian literature, so I was really excited to be able to bring a lot of that stuff I’ve been studying to the band,” she said. “It gives a really good picture as to my tastes as a director and then also the abilities of the band.”
The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Calvary United Church, and Skomorowski encourages everyone to stop by.
“I think people really undervalue what we’ve created as an arts community in this country. We look a lot to European and American composers and artists, so I think it would be good for people to come and check it out and they might be pleasantly surprised as to what they find,” she emphasized.
It’s open to the public, admission is by donation and it’s about two hours with long with a 30 minute intermission.
This is also Skomorowski’s first season as director, which she said was a challenge at first being a member of the band for eight years.
“I know everybody, it’s just taking on a different type of role and different kind of relationship with people,” she said.
She added she’s also used to working with students.
“I come from a high school setting, so it’s been definitely a different sort of dynamic working with adults,” she said.
They will be playing between nine to 11 songs and have three more shows scheduled for the season—a Christmas show with the Prince Albert Children’s Choir, a show in March featuring traditional wind band music and a pop-style concert to conclude the season.
