SASKATOON – The East Prairie Spirit School Division’s regional band program is finished for the year after the group played what could be their final concert together in Saskatoon Monday night for hundreds of spectators. The division announced last week that it intended to phase out its band program, amid a financial shortfall and low high school participation rates.
“It still really hasn’t sunk in yet, but it is hard,” said Blaze Schmidt, a Grade 11 student from Aberdeen Composite School, moments after she played her final note Monday night at the division’s annual spring year end concert.
The two hour concert featured roughly 150 students in Grades 5 to 12, from seven different schools that make up the east division.
“We want them to showcase everything they’ve learned, they’ve worked so hard and we want people to see it,” said Christine Felts, a mother of two daughters who participate in the band program.
“No matter what happens they’ve got that last little ‘I can do this and this is what I want to do and it’s important.'”
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Felts said she hoped Monday’s concert wasn’t the last for the division. An online petition to keep the band program has gained over 5,500 signatures as of late Monday night.
“They’ve taken away a lot from the students who are coming up and us who are getting ready to graduate,” said Schmidt, pointing out that her two young siblings will be effected by the move.
“I think what bothers me most is that the younger students won’t have the opportunities that I did,” added Grade 11 student Kristina Rance, a saxophone player also from Aberdeen.
“I don’t think it’s fair to them.”
The importance of music education was mentioned multiple times by parents, students and conductors Monday night, at times drawing large applause from the audience.
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“There’s not logic and no reason for these people to be doing what they’re doing,” said guest conductor Peter Meechan to the crowd before leading the students in a performance of one of his compositions.
“Keep fighting the good fight and just remember that these kids are exceptional and you should be very, very proud of them,” he added.
The school division has planned information sessions on June 8 in Delisle and June 10 in South Corman Park for parents and students to learn more about the cuts and ask questions to administrators.
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