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www.durhamregion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JUNE 18, 2003 PAGE 3 And the Festival delivered sweet sounds BY ALEXIS SCIUK Special to This Week ORONO - Organizers of the Great Canadian Town Band Festival insisted the show go on despite hard rain this past Friday. To that end, some of Canada's finest amateur and professional wind ensembles gathered in Orono over the weekend to celebrate the music of a 200-year-old band heritage. heritage. The town band tradition began with the French and British military bands in the 18th and 19th centuries. centuries. The Great Canadian Town Band Festival has been carrying on the tradition for the past four years and it has been growing in popularity popularity ever since. Spectators enjoyed a spectacular Military Tattoo featuring Canada's most honoured military bands as the rain let up on Friday night to kick off the weekend's festivities. Included Included in the line-up was the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Toronto Scottish Rangers. The three-day event attracted more than 1,000 spectators and showcased close to 20 bands. The festival had a little something for every musical taste. Performances ranged from military tattoos to big bands on Saturday night to swing bands throughout the day. Master of Ceremonies Bruce Rogers recalled the great sound of concert bands and the tradition they represent. bands played on and on in Orono A.J. GROEN/ Statesman photo Bandmaster Roland Hill leads the Whitby Brass Band through a number during the Great Canadian Town Band Festival in Orono. "I was a musician in my youth, in concert bands and swing bands. Now I just love to hear it and love to see young people involved in music." Mr. Rogers feels music festivals festivals benefit the community in many ways. "It is a very cohesive cohesive element for small towns. A town with a good concert band is probably going to find that its social health has improved as a result." Mr. Rogers also said that the Great Canadian Town Band Festival will soon be on par with other large Ontario attractions. "I think it will become become one of the main attractions attractions in Ontario. I really do. In the future I see it becoming something as important to this general area, south Durham, as the Shaw Festival is to Niagara, Niagara, or the Stratford Festival is to the area around Stratford." Stratford." The central feature of the festival is the performances of town bands. In years past, town band performances became became part of the community's cultural life in towns and villages villages across the country. Festival Festival organizers are trying to recapture recapture that era with an emphasis emphasis on the town band. Judy Climenitage, one of the organizing committee members, said that the show would have gone on no matter what. "It didn't stop raining until 7:30 p.m. [on Friday] so we were disappointed with the crowd but the program was excellent. We always have a plan 'B' but we were able to hold it outdoors anyway. The show still goes on no matter matter what." Ms. Climenitage said the committee tries every year to get new bands. "We try to get a variety (of bands) every year. Part of our committee is made up of band members and there is a band community that [also] gives us sug gestions." John Seymour and Jean Edwards travelled from Sharon, a small town just past Newmarket, to enjoy the show. "I enjoy it very much. The great music is what brings us back," said Mr. Seymour. "I like the Saturday afternoon afternoon and Sunday," said Ms. Edwards. They brought their dog Tiggcr, half- Labrador/half-Shepherd, to the show. "He enjoys it too," said Mr. Seymour. G S b s S & S<> § 5 Si S 6o S [VS s .© 5 C 'E F si n £ 55 * 55 55 E yü td v» S 01 c= y> Thursday, Friday and Saturday June 19 th 9-9,20 ,h 9-9 and 21 st 9-5 BARGAIN PAY KICK-OFF Shop Early! Shop Late! Stores open 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. FREE Concert in the Park Featuring "The Lincolnaires" 7:00 p.m. PU Playing 50's Music 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT - 50'S TRIBUTE "Pryme Tyme" 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. HDB n a m ÔH HfTDI Œ HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HOWMANVILLE HAMf-DAy Come Enjoy The Beach Party Featuring™ • Beach Volleyball Tournament • Children's Puck Pond • Jumping Castle • Powmanville Museum Display • Clowns • DJ's "Golden Oldies" Music of the 50's • Fish Pond • Kiddie Rides in support of Lupus QuQjsMil Jeep "WHERE YOU GET MORE THAN GREAT PRICES' ISO 9002 CERTIFIED ooooo FIVE GTAR • Sales • leasing • Parts • Service "Convenient Customer Shuttle Service" 799 BLOOR ST. W., OSHAWA 905-404-0525 wnAnw.durhamchrysler.com