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Wow, Folks!

Our performance last week was something to be really proud of! Congratulations to each of you! I received a number of really positive comments about how much they enjoyed our performance and wanting us to return. Each one of you contributed tremendously to our success. Thank you.

Rehearsal this week will be back to our regularly scheduled programming, as follows:

• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 75 – Fanfare for the Unsung Hero
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

See you on Thursday!

Elizabeth.

Well, Folks, we are well prepared for our concert this week!

I am SO proud of the work we’ve done together this season so far! I know it sometimes feels that in a large group like ours, one person doesn’t matter, but I’m here to disabuse you of that notion. Each of you brings something really special and we noticed when your “voice” is missing. I appreciate you all more deeply than I can express and I’m honoured to stand among you.

There’s one newsy bit to share (the 2025 Season and 2025 Performances pages have been updated on our site): we have a gig confirmed on Thursday, August 21! This will be our traditional last concert at Concordia Village (1125 Molson St) at 7 pm.

Apart from that, it’s down to the good stuff:

Concert Details:

Where: Lindenwood Terrace -490 Lindenwood Dr E

When: Call time- 6:30 pm. Our collective warm up will start at 6:50 pm and the performance proper begins promptly at 7:00 pm.

Wear: Black bottoms preferred. (Bottoms are mandatory). In order of preference: Northwinds top (polo or t-shirt), forest green top, black top. (Tops also mandatory).

As always, please dress for the conditions. If the weather and air quality cooperate, we will likely play outside under a pergola. Hats, sunscreen, insect repellent, sandals – all fine!

Bring: music stand, sunscreen, insect repellent, water, clothespins or plexiglass (to wrangle your music in the wind), your instrument, stand light (if you need)…

Concert Order

The first three items on this list constitute our warm up phase.

• Scale – F Major
• 68 – Jazz Chaconne
• Scale – Bb Major
• 42 – Northwind
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik

I think that about covers it for this week! See you on Thursday!

Elizabeth.

I’m feeling very comfortable about our next performance (July 24 at Lindenwoods Terrace).

End of Season Barbecue – Save the Date

Mark your calendars! The 2nd annual Millennium Band (and Friends) Wind-up Barbecue will be held on Saturday, August 30th starting at 2 pm (until whenever). One of our members (who will not be doxxed) has offered to host in her spacious backyard. (Spoiler alert: it’s the same place as last year). This will be a partially pot luck event. Cost will be $5 per person (to help cover supplies including protein).

Please reach out to info@mbmillenniumband.com if there are special dietary requirements or allergies (e.g. vegetarian, etc).

More details to follow (including RSVP date).

Baba Yetu

As promised at our last rehearsal, I’m including some links for those who are interested in some additional context for Baba Yetu.

Here’s the previously shared link to the recording of the arrangement we’re playing.

Here’s the previously shared link to the Civilization IV trailer, featuring Baba Yetu.

Here’s a link to the video of a performance conducted by Christopher Tin in 2017 in Wales.

Rehearsal Order

Since this is a dress rehearsal, the plan will be to run through everything in the order below, take a break, then work out any spots that need some last minute shine.

• Scale – F Major
• 68 – Jazz Chaconne
• Scale – Bb Major
• 42 – Northwind
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik

I hope to see most of you on Thursday!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth.

Wow, Folks! Just Wow!!

Rehearsal last evening was fantastic! Maybe it was the comfortable air conditioning, maybe it was something in the water, but we were ON last night! I’m so pleased with the progress we made!

We have two more rehearsals before our next performance.

This coming week, I’d like to focus on the following pieces:

• One of our scales will be a revisit of Gb Major (concert).
• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik
• 26 – The Rowan Tree
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 42 – Northwind
• 51 – Entrance of the Gladiators
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 76 – Sweet Caroline
• 77 – Sesame Street Celebration
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!

I hope you all have a lovely week and I’m looking forward to our time together next Thursday!

Elizabeth.

Good day, Folks!

Our performance yesterday went very well overall, despite the challenges posed by the heat and general vagaries of outdoor playing.

Special thanks goes out to our “ringer,” who filled out our percussion section! It was wonderful to have three percussionists!

Thanks to everyone who expressed concern for me (and who took the time to check in last evening). Once I got home, I lay under the fan for a spell and just took it easy for the rest of the day. I was mostly normal after about an hour or so. I’d say I’m a bit more sluggish than usual today (both mentally and physically) and feeling just a little sunkissed, but that’s the extent of lingering effects and I’m certain I’ll be fully recovered tomorrow.

We do have rehearsal tomorrow evening at the usual place and time. Here’s what we have on our docket:

• 17 – Eine Kleine Rockmusik
• 25 – The Blue Orchid Tango
• 36 – Space and Beyond
• 42 – Northwind
• 70 – The Maple Leaf Forever
• 78 – Baba Yetu
• 79 – Zoolantis!
• 54 – The Drunken Sailor
• 57 – Wade in the Water

See you tomorrow!

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.