Author: Elizabeth

Well, folks, we’re ready for our concert on Tuesday! Rehearsal was excellent! Thanks so much for your hard work. On to the details:

Concert Details

When: Tuesday, July 1 (Canada Day) Please arrive by 2:30 pm so we can get ourselves set up. (There is parking, but it may be a bit of a walk). Group warm up will start at 2:50 pm, and the performance proper kicks off at 3:00 pm.

Where: St. James Kiwanis Courts – 90 Sinawik Bay.

What to bring: Sunscreen, insect repellent, music stand, water, your instrument.

What to wear: black bottoms, and in order of preference: Millennium Band top (polo or t-shirt), forest green tops, black tops. Keep your health as top priority (i.e. we’d rather see you in a black t-shirt than a forest green parka).

Concert Order

• Scales: Bb, F (concert pitch)
• Warm Up:68 – Jazz Chaconne
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 77- Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 63 – Hallelujah
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water (Extra – only if time permits)
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 80 – O Canada

Looking forward to seeing you on Canada Day!

Elizabeth.

Well, folks, it’s been… a week. Nothing bad, just not quite myself. Hence the inexcusable delay in getting this out.

This week is back at Bourkevale!!

It’s also a Dress Rehearsal, which means the usual process is adjusted. We’ll run the concert program in the first half with (ideally) no stopping. After the break, we’ll spot-rehearse to fix up what needs fixing. (You’re ready for this!)

Concert Details

Our concert will be Tuesday, July 1 (Canada Day) at St. James Kiwanis Courts – 90 Sinawik Bay. Please arrive at 2:30 pm so we can get ourselves set up. Group warm up will start at 2:50 pm, and the performance proper kicks off at 3:00 pm. This will be an outdoor performance (unless weather is inclement – then we’ll be inside) so please do show up.

If you cannot make the performance (and have not already told us), please email us at info@mbmillenniumband.com. We will need to ensure key part coverage.

Uniforms

The new Millennium Band shirts come to every rehearsal and are available for $25. It is not mandatory, but if you’re interested, we have them available. (Our uniforms are black bottoms, and in order of preference: forest green tops, black tops).

Rehearsal/Concert Order

Now, without further ado, here’s our performance order:

• Scales: Bb, F (concert pitch)
• Warm Up:68 – Jazz Chaconne
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 77- Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 63 – Hallelujah
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water (Extra – only if time permits)
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 80 – O Canada

I think that’s it from me for now!

See you tomorrow!

Elizabeth.

Hi Folks!

Well, folks, we have 2 more rehearsals before our first performance of the year! I think we’re in very good shape!

I’m sorry for the delay in getting this sent out. I hope to do better this week.

LOCATION CHANGE!!!!

Bourkevale is unavailable to us this week, so please do not report there for rehearsal! Instead, we will be practising at the St James Legion – 1755 Portage Ave – 7-9 pm.

As always, I’ll be there at 6:30 pm if anyone wants some assistance with brass technique OR general practise techniques.

Uniforms

The new Millennium Band shirts come to every rehearsal and are available for $25. It is not mandatory, but if you’re interested, we have them available. (Our uniforms are black bottoms, and in order of preference: forest green tops, black tops).

I think that’s it for news for now!

I’ll be drawing our rehearsal from the following pieces:

• Scales will be a repeat of last week: Db, B, Bb (concert pitch)
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water
• 63 – Hallelujah
• 68 – Jazz Chaconne
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 77- Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 80 – O Canada

See you on Thursday!

Elizabeth.

Hi Folks!

As usual, our rehearsal this past week went incredibly well! I’m really excited about what we’re accomplishing already and looking forward to our Canada Day gig!

Some newsy bits off the top:

We’ve been approached with an offer of coaching for Clarinet and Saxophone players. Our volunteer holds a degree in Clarinet performance and currently plays for a military band. They will be in the city for the summer and are looking to give back to the musical community. If you play Clarinet or Saxophone and are interested, please email us at info@mbmillenniumband.com.

We handed out a new piece #80 – O Canada. (Parts will continue to be available). If you are someone who prefers an electronic copy, please email us your request at info@mbmillenniumband.com (letting us know your instrument/part) and we’ll forward you the digital copy.

I think that’s it for news for now!

I’ll be drawing our rehearsal from the following pieces:

• 21 – A Disney Spectacular
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 37 – Wade in the Water
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 63 – Hallelujah
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 80 – O Canada

See you on Thursday!

Elizabeth.

Hi Folks!

As always, your work in our rehearsal this past weekend was phenomenal! That was our last Saturday rehearsal, so please note our next rehearsal details (both day and venue are changed):

Thursday, June 5 – 7-9 pm – Bourkevale Community Centre – 100 Ferry Rd

All our remaining rehearsals will take place on Thursday nights.

New Gig Booked!

We have also been booked to perform a gig!

• Date: Tuesday, July 1 (Canada Day)
• Call Time: 2:30 pm
• Place: St. James Kiwanis Courts – 90 Sinawik Bay

We will need to ensure that we have percussion coverage, so if you are a percussionist, please confirm your attendance as soon as possible.

If you are willing to take on percussion for this gig, please let us know so that Elizabeth can adjust repertoire as needed.

Rehearsal

Going forward, we’ll be adding sight reading to our warm up routine. We have inherited a bunch of scores so we’ve been reading through them to assess whether they’re a good fit.

I’ll be drawing our rehearsal from the following pieces:

• 3 – Classic Rock’n’Roll
• 21 – A Disney Spectacular
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 42 – Northwind
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

See you on Thursday!

Elizabeth.

In spite of the change in time, once again, we had a very good turnout. We did really good work this week! Pat yourselves on the back!

Next rehearsal will be May 31 at the Legion #4 – 1755 Portage Ave, and return to our regular 10 am time slot. This will be the final Saturday rehearsal. (We’ll move to Thursdays thereafter).

A couple of housekeeping items:

Shirts

We do have shirts for sale ($25 each). We expect to have shirts at all rehearsals. We have been advised that they run a little larger than we had anticipated. We recommend that you try them on, and if they’re too big, we’ll exchange for a different size. Please note that there is no requirement to purchase a shirt – if you have a Millennium Band t-shirt, a forest green top, or a black top, you’re fine.

And we see an early return to a feature from our last year’s newsy bits:

Lost and Found

Lost: One grey sweatshirt. This was left behind at the legion.

Found (from last year): one alto saxophone stand.

Rehearsal List

We’ll be rehearsing from among the following:

• 3 – Classic Rock’n’Roll
• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik
• 26 – The Rowan Tree
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 42 – Northwind
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

I hope you all have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth.

Good evening, folks!

This week’s rehearsal was extremely productive. I’m thrilled with our progress so far! We have an embarrassment of riches in all of you!

Our next rehearsal is May 24 at the Legion Branch #4 – 1755 Portage Ave from  2 pm – 4 pm. Note the time change!!! (There is a function taking place at the Legion in the morning, which precluded us booking the space).

Here’s the list of pieces that rehearsal will be drawn from:

• 3 – Classic Rock’n’Roll
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 37 – Wade in the Water
• 42 – Northwind
• 52 – 76 Trombones
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

I’m looking forward to seeing you on Saturday afternoon!

Elizabeth.

*** CORRECTION: Rehearsal is May 17 (I’m 0nly contractually obligated to be able to count to four. These “teen” numbers are out of scope). ***

The previously published post has been corrected.

Apologies for any confusion.

Elizabeth.

*** CORRECTION: Rehearsal is May 17 (I’m 0nly contractually obligated to be able to count to four. These “teen” numbers are out of scope). ***

Hi Folks!

Well, we’re off and running on our 2025 season! And what a season it’s looking to be! We had a fantastic crew at our kick-off rehearsal and I think we really set the tone for the summer.

Our next rehearsal will be Saturday, May 14 May 17 from 10 am – 12 pm at the St James Legion – 1755 Portage Ave.

We’ll be drawing from the following list of pieces:

• 21 – A Disney Spectacular
• 42 – Northwind
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water
• 68 – Jazz Chaconne
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

I would encourage you to do some listening to help you sort out some of the rhythms and feel in our new pieces as follows:

• Zoolantis! (no narration)
• Zoolantis! (with narration)
• Baba Yetu (This is the opening of Civilization IV, so is the original source)
• Baba Yetu (This is the arrangement we’re playing. I’d recommend having your part in front of you to see where it fits into the whole picture).

I think that’s about it for this week. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

Elizabeth.

Just a quick reminder that we’ll be starting up in 7 short days!

Here are the details for our first rehearsal of the season:

May 10 –  Saturday – 10 am – 12 pm – Legion Branch #4 – 1755 Portage Ave – if possible, please try to arrive a wee bit early so that we can get music assigned and begin the fun as close to 10:00 as possible! 

You will definitely need a music stand!

I’m excited for the season and I hope it will be a fun one!

See you in a week!

Elizabeth.