Concert Band Revue takes centre stage at the Bell Performing Arts Centre

The Grandview Heights Secondary Intermediate Concert Band, led by Andrea Smith, performed at this year's Concert Band Revue at the Bell Performing Arts Centre. (Photos by Jacob Zinn)

Thirty ensembles from the district and beyond put on amazing performances this week during the Grade 9-12 Concert Band Revue at the Bell Performing Arts Centre, an annual non-competitive showcase of musical talent for secondary students.

More than 1,400 students from 16 secondary schools performed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for a pair of adjudicators, as well as audiences of parents and staff. The revue featured performances from students at Clayton Heights, Enver Creek, Fleetwood Park, Frank Hurt, Fraser Heights, Grandview Heights, Johnston Heights, Kwantlen Park, L.A. Matheson, Lord Tweedsmuir, North Surrey, Panorama Ridge, École Salish, Sullivan Heights and Tamanawis secondary schools, as well as Holy Cross Regional High School.

“It’s such a great feeling having students back and being involved in growing the band programs again and being as committed to and enjoying band as much as they are,” said arts education helping teacher Tricia Liversidge.

Last year’s concert band revue was one of the first in-person arts events to return since the start of the pandemic, but Liversidge said the atmosphere of this year’s event feels closer to that of years of prior.

“We were able to do things last year, but it felt different, like a break from normal. This is back to feeling a little more familiar,” she said. “Having an audience is pretty spectacular – it’s been great to see some of the parents and grandparents join us.”

This year’s performances were adjudicated by Dr. Valerie Whitney, an assistant professor of horn and brass at the UBC School of Music, and Rob Goddard, an esteemed music instructor at the Langley Fine Arts School. Both shared valuable insight after each band’s performances, lending decades of experience and craft to their critiques.

“Between the two of them, they provide some written and recorded feedback while the bands are performing, and then address everybody with some general comments as well,” said Liversidge. “They are an amazing adjudication team and they’ve given a lot of really great feedback for the students.”

Looking ahead to the new year, the district will be hosting many more music and performance events at the Bell Performing Arts Centre before the end of the school year, including:

• Secondary Dance Festival – Wednesday, Jan. 11
• Secondary Choral Festival (Semester One) – Thursday, Jan. 12
• Surrey Schools International Jazz Festival – Feb. 24-25
• Elementary Choral Festival – Feb. 28, March 1-3 & 6-9
• District Dance Festival – April 3-6 & 17-20 & 24
• Grade 8 Band Revue – April 18 & 19 OR 24
• Secondary Dance Festival – April 26
• Elementary Instrumental Festival – May 2-4
• Secondary Choral Festival (Semester Two) – May 1 OR 3

For more information, see our Arts Education Events page.

Congratulations to all of our amazing bands!