Music

Media Release
For Immediate Release
May 11, 2019

Journey Middle School band wins invitation to Nationals

SOOKE, BC – The Journey Middle School band returns triumphant from the regionals for MusicFest Canada, in Port Alberni in April with all five groups receiving an invitation to the Nationals in Calgary in 2020.

“I could not be prouder of the students,” said Lorna Bjorklund, Journey Band conductor and teacher, “They’ve performed exceedingly well and we’re excited at the chance to go to Calgary in 2020. I’m really touched by how the community came together to support the kids. We had a wonderful team of parents, teachers, administrators and Sooke residents who helped make our trips possible.”

In Port Alberni, the students received Superior and Excellent gradings for their performances, as follows:

• Grade 6,7 & 8 Concert Band received Superior
• Grade 7&8 Concert Band received Excellent Plus
• Grade 8 Concert Band received Excellent Plus
• District 62 Orchestra received Excellent Plus
• District 62 Chamber Ensemble received Superior Minus

All five groups performed and all five received invitations to Nationals.

“We were so surprised when they told us how well we’d done,” said Stella Champagne, who plays the clarinet in the Grade 6 section. “I’m very excited at the chance to go to Calgary.”

The students also recently performed very well in a second event at the Whistler Cantando Music Festival in Whistler, BC, on April 26. The Grade 6,7,8 band received Silver and the 7,8 band received Gold.  Adjudicators there commented that “they have a beautiful sound”, “a great band” and “some really, really nice playing!”

“It was fun to go and it was an interesting experience,” said Sienna Lajoie, flutist in the grade 8 band, who attended the Whistler Cantado Music Festival.

Upcoming, the Journey band will also be performing in the Capital City Jazz festival in late May and will be giving further concerts in June. The band will also be planning fundraising in the next seasons to raise money to attend Nationals.

Attachment: WhistlerGroupPhoto-JourneyBand.jpg

For inquiries, please contact:
Lorna Bjorklund, Band conductor and teacher
Cell: 250.555.5555

 Drumline and Harmony Project Registration Form

HARMONY PROJECT

The original Harmony Project was founded by Dr. Margaret Martin, who went from being a homeless single mother to earning a Ph. D. degree and being honoured by U.S. President Barack Obama for her work on the project.

Harmony Project’s mission is to promote the healthy growth and development of children through the study, practice and performance of music; to build healthier communities by investing in the positive development of children through music; and to develop children as musical ambassadors of peace, hope and understanding among people of diverse cultures, backgrounds and beliefs.

Lead organizers in Sooke include Norman Nelson and Anne McDougall of the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, and Lorna Bjorklund, conductor of the Journey Middle School Concert Band.

Harmony Project Sooke will offer students in School District 62 the following programs commencing February 2016:

Beginning Strings for 21 students enrolled in Grades 2-3.

Drumline for 24 students in Grades 6-8.

Students are expected to attend three classes per week, and to make an initial commitment of two years.

All students will be enrolled in ensembles which will perform concerts – students at all levels of ability will be able to participate.

The program is provided FREE of charge to students who otherwise would not be able to participate in this musical experience. Additional students are accepted on a 50% scholarship subject to availability. Openings for up to one-third of the spaces may be available. For those students on half scholarships, the cost will be $350 for Term 1, which ends in June.