Well, Folks, that’s a wrap! This will likely be my final missive (apart from a final plug for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!) until we announce details for our 2026 season (usually available in late March).
Buckle up. as this is going to be lengthy.
2025 Music
If you have not turned in your music, please reach out to us at info@mbmillenniumband.com so that we can make arrangements to retrieve the binder. Alternatively, Jeff will be at Westwood Community Band on Thursdays, so that’s an available drop-off point.
2026 Sneak Peek
I also want to share with you recordings of the pieces we plan to add to our library for next season:
- A Gathering of Eagles – Bob Baker, imagined for concert band by Bob Buckley
- Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson, arr. Bob Buckley
Barbecue
We had a really lovely day (in spite of the unseasonable heat) to gather together to cap off our summer this past Saturday. It was fantastic to see so many of you coming out to just hang out!
We want to say a big thank you to Nicole for hosting us and for being our grillmaster.
I also want to thank the band for the beautiful flowers (which are sitting next to me as I compose this) and the lovely souvenir of my tenth season. (For those who were absent, it’s a framed photo of Benjamin Yeo and I on a stage together. A pre-souvenir, if you will, of a meeting yet to take place). It is sitting in front of the flowers at the moment, though I intend for it to sit on my piano eventually. It reminds me of our tremendous season, but mostly, of all of you. Yes, it’s funny, but it has also touched me deeply.
Acknowledgements and Final Thoughts
My practise has been to take a few minutes (and probably too many words) at this time to reflect on the season that was.
I am, as usual, humbled and grateful to be part of this organisation. Every year, you surpass what we accomplished the preceding season. Every year, I’m blown away by the growth I see in you over the course of the summer. Every year, I’m deeply touched by your kindness towards one another, the effort you put forth, the commitment you display, the vulnerability you bring, and the supportive culture we have created in this space. This year is no exception.
So many of you have blossomed musically. You’ve put in extra effort behind the scenes. You’ve tried parts that should be out of your reach and you’ve managed to achieve them. You’ve been brave in playing challenging solos or parts even when you didn’t know to play them. We’ve all noticed your efforts and we’re so thrilled to be a part of that! Congratulations!
Others among you have taken on a mentorship role, whether it’s taking someone in your section under your wing, or someone from an adjacent section. Some of you have mentored without being aware of it. Demonstrating good work (playing well, modelling professional behaviour, willing to be vulnerable in our shared space, etc) is an example to those who are learning the etiquette of the rehearsal or concert space and that matters a lot. I dare say we’ve all learned from one another and that’s a beautiful thing. Thank you for doing this without being asked. It has been noticed and is deeply appreciated.
Everyone has made the job of organising so much easier. There are a lot of moving parts in getting the details straightened out, setting up, tearing down, etc. That you notice these things, recognise when there’s a gap, and step in to help without being asked is a tremendous credit to you. Whether it’s arriving 40 minutes before go time to set up chairs, staying late to tear down, car pooling, assisting the percussion with loading (they’re usually first to arrive to unload, bless their hearts), carrying gear to help bandmates, communicating amongst your section by text/email to ensure part coverage, etc, you’re all doing invisible labour that makes the band work so much more smoothly. You are the unsung heroes and I want to make sure you know that, while I don’t know all the details, I know they’re happening and it really does take a load off. Many, many thanks!
It’s very easy (I know from personal experience) to think that one person doesn’t matter very much in a large ensemble like a concert band. Sometimes, we think that supporting parts (2nd, 3rd) aren’t as important. That’s just not true. Each and every one of you matters. We all notice when your instrument’s voice isn’t there. You bring your unique self to the sound and we’re not the same without you. I hope that’s something you carry with you along your musical journey. While we don’t ever want to pressure folks about attendance or having to take time away, we do notice your absence and we do miss you.
I want to take a moment here (before I forget and embarrass myself) to thank the executive committee for their dedication and work to better the experience for all of us. Their service allows us to have a smooth season. (I refrain from using last names because the internet is a wild and lawless place). Please join me in thanking them for their service:
Christina is our member at large. She has been part of, I think, every ensemble that’s existed in Winnipeg since the dawn of time (at one time or another) and has probably been on every executive committee in every role that’s existed! (Ok, there’s some hyperbole there. She’s only 29, after all!) What she brings to the table is a vast and intimate knowledge of the band community in Winnipeg. She knows the people, she knows the game, what strategy is likely to fail, and what course corrections we can make to stand a chance at success. Without her perspective, we would have gone astray a few times at least!
Bruce looks after recording executive meeting notes, booking gigs (including what we need to perform – like enough space and armless chairs for some instruments), and collecting our booking fees. He is a victim of his own success as this year, three of the four gigs we had approached us (rather than us having to knock on doors to find a place to play) and we’ve already had one request to book for 2026! This is a testament not only to the excellent relationship-building that Bruce has done, but also to the band’s ability to deliver. (If we didn’t put on a decent show, we wouldn’t have repeat customers…although, we do have a bit of a monopoly on the summer season as far as concert bands go, but that’s not important right now). I really appreciate that, most years, we have our gigs pretty well sorted out before rehearsals start. Bruce is also part of the early set-up club (he might be a founding member). His work ensures that we have the opportunity to share our music and that we are compensated for it appropriately.
Dave is our treasurer and keeps us from bankrupting ourselves. He also liaises with our rehearsal spaces to ensure we have a place to gather every week. He is one of the original founding members of the ensemble and it was his vision (along with two others) who really got Millennium rolling as a regular summer ensemble. Dave has played in about as many ensembles as Christina over the years, and has been a long-time band treasurer, so he also brings a wealth of experience to the table that we benefit from heartily. Most of the percussion equipment is his, so we also have to add our thanks to him for collecting, storing, and carting all that. We would be a lesser ensemble without everything he brings to the table! (And I know he’s mad at me for shining the spotlight his way. He’s got a few months to get over it, though).
Jeff is our librarian and webmaster. Our current binder system is his idea, even though it makes a lot more work for him (but it’s definitely preserving our music). To peel back the curtain a little, I provide him with a list of pieces I think we might touch during the summer, usually in March. He also gets possession of (usually two) new scores that we’re adding to the library. He scans the new scores, updates our library on the website, prints all the parts out (so we’re on a standard size page that fits in the page protectors). He removes all the dormant pieces from all of the binders, adds in all the new pieces in numerical order, and prints a new index for all the binders so that you have a reference of what’s in the binders each summer. He knows some people prefer a digital copy of the music, so he’ll email those to “the regulars.” He also chases down binders that didn’t get returned. If we have an unexpected influx of new people mid-season, he copies and makes up new binders through the summer as required. Plus, he lugs all the boxes of binders around all summer long. And this year, he took on the shirt management as well. (I’m tired just typing that out!) All this to say, the efforts he goes to make dealing with music and protecting our music from wind and rain ensure that our music collection is navigable, preserved, and as easy as possible for you to use. His work on our website allows us to have a digital presence that’s (we hope!) easy to navigate and provides a vehicle for communicating important information with minimal risk to personal information.
To the Executive Committee: We can’t thank you enough for the work you do – visible and invisible. Your service makes our season possible and enjoyable. That you take on extra jobs, cover off when someone is away, and just get ‘er done without ceremony or applause demonstrates your commitment to us, and the whole band thanks you.
From me (Elizabeth): I can’t thank you (the committee) enough for all the things you do and the spirit in which you do them. Your work provides me with freedom to focus on the music and how we can play our best. Your implicit trust and support has allowed me to stumble my way to improving my craft. You took a pretty big chance on me and I’m forever grateful to have the honour of serving alongside you. You have my deepest appreciation and gratitude.
As was pointed out to me by a little birdie, this brings to a close my 10th season wielding the baton. I believe this occasion calls for a little extra reflecting, if you’ll permit me the extravagance. (Heck, you’re a captive audience. You don’t really get a vote, although I can’t force you to read it).
I had actually played in the 2008 resurrection of the Millennium Band (that was the first year Millennium ran over the summer as we prepared for the Riding Mountain anniversary celebration and a gig in Dauphin since we were most of the way there anyway). I think I played a little for a season or so afterwards, but the commute to rehearsal became too much. I had planned to join as a member in 2013. But I heard through the grapevine that the season was in danger as they didn’t have a conductor. I have always believed that what Millennium was doing filled a gap and I really didn’t want to see it fold (sometimes a short break becomes permanent too easily) so I (rather uncharacteristically) put my name forward as an option. (I did tell them that I didn’t have a lot of conducting experience, that if someone else volunteered, they should go with them, and that I didn’t feel right about accepting an honorarium, which they pooh-poohed). So that’s how I ended up here.
Working with you in this capacity has been the honour of my life. I am so grateful. You have all given me a tremendous gift: the chance to develop my own musical skills in new and fresh ways. You have all pushed me to be better. Building my skills has a conductor, a rehearsal manager, a mentor, and a leader has been integral not only to my personal musical development, but also to my overall life satisfaction. I am at my happiest when we’re rehearsing together – learning together, laughing together, and sharing music. Each and every member has touched my life in ways that transcend the work we do.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this season. Thank you for being a part of this movement. Thank you for bringing your best selves.
I look forward to what comes next for us!
Have a wonderful year, and I hope to see you in the spring!
Happy playing!
Elizabeth.
