Wednesday, December 20, 1989 - North Shore News

Bakino?
Piece

of cake!
PAGE 52

NORTH VAN GROUP HAS GONE PLACES

Youth band celebrates 90 years

THE YEAR was 1953. On the stage of North Vancouver
Community Hall sat 30 surviving ‘members of the North
Vancouver Schools Band, waiting to give what they believed

would be their swan song.

The group's bandmaster had
just resigned, leaving the band in
great disarray and its future uncer-
tain.

A desperate appeal was sent out
to all parents in a last-ditch effort
to save the band, which had played
together for the last 14 years.

“Do you want a really fine
band, one thal can go places, or
ure you content to just ride along
as in the past?"* parents were ask-
ed.

In a quick turn of events, music
gok? medatliss Arthur Smith val-
unteered to become the band’s new
conductor and went on to rebulid
the group into what has been call-
ed its “golden era of accomplish-

ment.”"
Since those difficult, tines not
only has it gone places —- U.S ,

Europe and Japan —- the band ha,
won several prestigious awards and
trophies including the Best Cana-
dian Band award.

During the past 50 years the
group hes undergone many
changes — including a name
change to the North Vancouver
Youth Band in 1969. Its member-
ship has wavered — from SS in
1940 ta 30 in 1953, to 120 bays and
girls today.

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The main thing, though, is that
is has survived.

Current: president: David Etlis
says the band’s prescription for
success is its excellent reputation.
“The kids are known for their
good behavior and the conductor
and bandmasters have all been
dedisated to doing a good job.” he
said.

This month the band winds up a
year of SOth anniversary celebra-
Gions, which saw a hearrwarming
reunion of alumni members, a gala
coticert at the Orpheum Theatre
and an order for a brand new set
of uniforms.

fast year the group played be-
fore 40,000) people at the
prestigious Edinburgh Festival
parade. and this summer members
turned their attention to Cie silver
screen, ‘Twenty members of the
band appeared in an episode of
Cannell) Film's t.v. series,
Wiseguy.

Ellis said the band program,
which caters to juniors through to
seniors, was designed to give kids
an additional challenge from what
they receive in schoo bands.

Noted Ellis: ‘We don't force
Kids to learn. They hive fo want to
be there.”

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NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

Youth Band, well known to the local community, celebrated its 50th anniversary this

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