Westwood Sr. band takes centre stage at Place des Arts

When Westwood Sr. high school’s band finished playing their final song Saturday night, an audience of more than 1,000 spontaneously stood and cheered as the Grades 10 and 11 band wowed at Place des Arts, in Montreal.

The third time was the charm for the group, who has been invited as many times to play the renowned venue as part of the joint Michel Simard and Twigg Music music program. Simard and Twigg, a music store in Montreal, team up each year to rent Place des Arts. Selected bands play by invitation only during the program, titled En Musique Vers L’Avenir.

Westwood Sr’s band was the only group from an English school board to play, said music director Steve Dubinsky.

“And our band was the only one to receive a standing ovation,” he noted with pride on Monday.

In addition to Hudson, other invited bands came from schools across the Montreal region including Laval, St. Hubert, Montreal, Dorval, Cowansville, St. Jean and St. Lambert.

This is not the first time this year the senior group has garnered accolades. The band of 70 students (playing 13 different instruments) achieved silver standing last month when they competed in Ottawa during Musicfest Canada, held at the National Art Centre.

More than 11,000 kids from across country competed at the event, which also saw the Westwood Sr. Grade 9 band come away with gold

Dubinsky believes both bands have a reputation for hard work and attention to detail.

Which is no accident, he stresses.

“Hard work is more important now than ever since kids in general tend to take a more relaxed approach to success,” he says.

The experience last weekend was great for his students, Dubinsky explained, because it gave them the chance to play for a wider variety of people.

“When you play in front of your parents you know they’re going to clap and be happy, but when you play for other people you’re getting an honest reaction,” he said.

For their time on stage the band played four songs including: In the Halls of Mountain King, by Edvard Grieg; Into the Storm, by Robert W Smith; Shenandoah, arrange by Frank Ticheli and Tar Na Nog, by Carl Strommen.

The final piece was very challenging, said Dubinsky due to its speed.

“It requires a lot of fast notes, quick tongue work and short quick notes. To do it well, the students have to focus on the groove of the music rather than just the notes.”

Though the concept was abstract, his students “got it” and earned the standing ovation.