The Suncoast Concert Band struck up a musically diverse programme on April 23 during their annual spring concert. It was a bittersweet performance for many in the audience who knew that long-time conductor Janice Brunson would be giving her last formal concert with the group.
The 30-member band led with a Gershwin tune, Strike Up the Band, which can’t be beat for liveliness, but their star turns in the first half were two pieces arranged by the band’s own trumpeter John Frederickson – particularly his version of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen in which the sounds shifted gracefully through the players to swell to the well-known chorus. Another Frederickson arrangement, the Trumpet Concerto in E Flat Major, Mvt.1 became a solo for Paul Pedlar who earned great applause. The lovely Chautauqua (Robert W. Smith) that closed the first half was representative of its title. As master of ceremonies Alec Tebbutt noted: Chautauqua was a place but it was also an educational movement, an idea, and the music matched the theme.
The mood changed in the second half to more musical colours, textures and rhythms – a new level of creativity for the band. Crystals by Thomas C. Duffy employed a variety of sounds including tones derived from the rim of water glasses, while a Japanese piece, Letter from Sado, was a free-for-all with artists interpreting the music in their various ways. It would have been a tough task to conduct, but Brunson takes these musical forays in stride.
She is a music educator, teacher, band leader and choir conductor, with a huge passion for choral music. She took over from conductor François Koh in 2011, and at the end of June she will have completed five seasons with the Concert Band.
“She has taken the band up another notch in tone and musical experience,” said clarinettist Rod Olafson, “and we will miss her!”
So what are her plans for the future? “I was thinking feet up,” she told Coast Reporter at the concert. Later she said that she would be taking on private lessons for students as she’s been finding teaching really enjoyable. “There are lots of motivated people out there,” she said.
Brunson has been working with choirs for 30 years and will still be leading the Choralations Children’s Choir, A Cappella Strait Choir and the St. John’s United Church Choir. It’s no wonder she’s cutting back on her many other activities. She also has a yearning to play more jazz. She retired once before from a music program with School District No. 46, but continued to mentor and support music educators.
You will see her conduct on two more occasions: the July 1 Canada Day appearance in Sechelt and the Band’s visit to the Ladner Band Festival in June where they will perform.
