FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

2009 promises to be another active, productive year for the Delta Music Makers.  We have a whole folder of new music, we’ll be recording our CD in May, and the band has several interesting concerts and events throughout the year.

New and Returning Members:

Please welcome Jeanie McKay, valve trombone, who is our host – Jeanie is the band teacher at Delta Secondary School.  Former members who are returning include Chrissie Binz, French horn and Terri Calvert, trombone.  Also, Carol Murdoch is returning after an illness.  Please help me extend a welcome to all of these musicians. 

Conversely, please send your thoughts to both Loraleigh Dodd and Lyle Wade, who very reluctantly withdrew from the band for health reasons.

REHEARSAL AND EVENT CALENDAR 

Winter Term runs January 6 to March 10, with ten rehearsals at $60.
• Concerts include March 8, Sunday, 2 pm at Augustine House on Arthur Drive in Ladner
• Also, please keep Sunday March 1 as another possible concert date, TBA

Spring Term runs March 31 to June 16, with 12 rehearsals at $72.  This is a very busy term, with concerts and activities as follows:
• May 3 – possible concert TBA
• May 12, 19 and 26 - recording our CD during regular rehearsal nights
• May 24 – possible daytrip to Whistler, cost and timing TBA
• June 2 – evening concert at Genesis Theatre with the Elementary School Bands
• June 13, 14 – Ladner Bandfest.  DMM will perform on Sunday afternoon, but your volunteer assistance is needed on both Saturday and Sunday.

Summer Term runs July 7 to July 21, for three Tuesdays, at the South Delta Recreation Centre, withconcerts-in-the-park on Wednesday evenings July 15 and July 22.  July 19 is a possible concert, TBA.

POST CHRISTMAS BAND PARTY

It is always great to meet and talk with DMM musicians and guests at a social event.  We get little chance to do this at rehearsal, so it is a wonderful way to see other dimensions of our musical colleagues.  Please thank Ann Bates for hosting this event on January 17.  Let’s recognize all the raffle prizes provided by DMM members and businesses.

LIBRARIAN

We are very sad that our long-time librarian and flute-player, Lyle Wade, had to withdraw from the band due to ill health.  Lyle handled the librarian duties for many years, collecting music as it was handed in, collating all the parts, and refilling the file cabinets - a huge task done without fanfare by this unsung hero. 

The DMM are blessed with willing volunteers.  Please thank Terri Calvert for stepping up and offering to do this job.  Also, Ken and Anne have taken on the task of bringing the current music file-box to every rehearsal.

 NEW MUSIC
Your folder should consist of only the following 19 titles:

• ABBA On Broadway
• Army of the Nile
• Blue Goose Rag
• Cielito Lindo
• Clarinet Candy
• Condacum
• Dixieland Parade
• Don Pedro
• English Folk Song Suite
• Great Gate of Kiev
• Greensleeves
• Highlights From Oliver
• In A Gentle Rain
• Selections From Mary Poppins
• Selections From Sound of Music
• Song For The Mira
• Traumerei
• plus, O Canada and The Queen

Please hand in to Terri Calvert any other titles still in your folder.

See also 18 titles chosen for CD#3

RECORDING OUR THIRD CD

We have chosen the dates in late May as the optimum time to record our next CD.  It will include music that you have chosen – if you have taken the opportunity to send your 3 choices to Elaine Fetherstonhaugh at Elaine.f@telus.net . Your choices will be collated and a list created of music to be recorded.  Margaret Behenna and Curt Jantzen will also have some final input.  We hope that with your suggestions, we can compile a list of music that is not only a joyful and musical CD, but is also the best representation of the current Delta Music Makers.  See 18 titles chosen

The Third CD Committee consists of Margaret, Hilary, Elaine, Elvira, Tim, Dick and chair Curt Jantzen.  They will be meeting on January 22 to discuss the selections and instigate the necessary recording protocols.  Please join me in thanking Lillian Ellis for compiling the DMM music list of the past several years.

NEXT BAND TRIP

Hugh Martell and Curt Jantzen are busy exploring the logistics of a DMM tour to the Yukon and Alaska for August 2010.  The current plan is to fly to Whitehorse, get our highway coach and explore the Yukon including Whitehorse and Dawson City, then drive into Alaska where we explore Fairbanks, Denali National Park, and Anchorage.  We would perform concerts as appropriate in most of these places.  The homeward journey would be on a cruise ship!  The band would enjoy a relaxing, elegant 7-day, inside-passage cruise to Vancouver.  The DMM would not likely perform on board, but a dockside concert at a port-of-call is possible.  Firm plans will be presented in the spring of 2009, with a $100 deposit due in June 2009.  Assuming the trip is a “go”, installments will be due on September 15, December 1, March 1 and June 1.

WEBSITES

Many thanks to Ken Borrie for taking over from Paul Ferry as the webmanager for the DMM website, www.deltamusicmakers.org; and also the Ladner Bandfest website at www.ladnerbandfest.org.

These two gentlemen have created and maintained two remarkable websites that are unique in that they are always kept up to date!  This is rare among band websites, as a cursory browse of band sites will prove.  Please have a look at these two interesting sites – there may be photos of YOU!  Also most dates and information pertaining to the DMM can be found there.