Members of the Etobicoke Community Concert Band had the crowd entertained at Etobicoke Collegiate. Photo by Megan Rampersaud.
By MEGAN RAMPERSAUD
The Etobicoke Community Concert Band held its much-anticipated 30th annual holiday concert “To Much Tinsel” in the auditorium at the Etobicoke Collegiate Institute.
The December 12 concert was conducted by the Artistic Director John Edward Liddle and fans enjoyed classic Christmas songs as, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Sleigh Ride” and many more. Attendees were invited to sing along to the Christmas songs and celebrated the season with treats during intermission.
The evening featured a special reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by former Etobicoke MP Jean Augustine, who was last year’s special guest.
“I’m always very happy to participate in any community events… I think it’s important for us to bring young people along so that they could participate, they could learn from, they could be mentored by some of the older musicians in the band,” Augustine said.
The dynamic former MP Jean Augustine voiced a tune at the show. She has had parks and schools named after her.
She said the songs brought a fresh cultural and religious spirit of Christmas over the years. “If you walk through the room I’m sure people here are all religions and all nationality, but we all gravitate around the Christmas spirit… these men and women who are a part of the community are bringing that joy to us.”
This year’s holiday concert was special to Liddle as the band is celebrating its 30th anniversary. “It’s an honour to still be doing it… COVID-19 has destroyed a lot of bands and our audience was older, so there was a three-year spread where nothing was happening,” he said.
The band consists of about 40 volunteer musicians of all ages. “So now we’re in a rebuilding phase with regards to audiences and letting everybody know we still exist,” he said. Liddle explained that no person is left out and the goal is for ‘the community to feel life with music for a couple of hours.’
The Etobicoke Community Concert Band had them singing with a range of Christmas carols. Photo by Megan Rampersaud.
Band president Althea Robinson plays second clarinet in the band, which ‘holds a very special place personally and is very community focused.’ She looking forward to continued growth now that the band is in its third decade.
“It’s a privilege and honour to have Jean Augustine narrate for us, every year we try to have a special guest read but we were lucky to get her again … it’s a fan favourite because it’s something we do every year,” she said.
Robinson spotlights inclusivity, explaining that ‘any degree of musical talent is welcomed.’ Those who are interested in volunteering as a musician, can e-mail them by visiting its website.