Musicians from the Russell Community Concert Band received a standing ovation after an evening of cinematic favourites, emotional solo performances, and a special encore of Let It Be. (Photo provided)
The Russell Community Concert Band transported a filled auditorium to Hollywood on Thursday, May 14, with its spring concert, Music of the Silver Screen, held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School in Russell.
The performance also served as a delayed celebration of the ensemble’s 15th anniversary, described by organizers as a “15 + 2” anniversary following postponements in recent years. To mark the occasion, several former members returned to perform alongside the current ensemble.
The evening opened with a fast-paced Spanish march that immediately set a cinematic tone for the concert. Throughout the night, the 36-piece band showcased a wide sonic range, moving from sweeping woodwind passages to powerful percussion-driven moments.
Several standout solo performances drew enthusiastic reactions from the audience. A trombone solo during Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World brought a warm jazz atmosphere to the auditorium, while a clarinet feature on Gabriel’s Oboe from The Mission delivered one of the evening’s most emotional moments.
The concert’s repertoire highlighted a broad range of film and television music. Audience members were treated to western-inspired selections from The Magnificent Seven and Blazing Saddles, a medley of John Williams film scores, themes from popular sitcoms, and a whimsical collection of Disney classics.
One of the evening’s centrepieces was the performance of Portrait of Terry Fox by late Canadian composer Quan H. Le. Written to capture the passion, perseverance, and legacy of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope, the composition received the 2018 Howard Cable Memorial Prize in Composition from the Canadian Band Association for best original concert band composition.
The Russell musicians delivered the piece with precision and emotion, bringing its dramatic narrative and triumphant spirit to life.
The concert also highlighted the strong sense of community within the local music scene. The ensemble featured an intergenerational mix of performers, bringing together amateur musicians and experienced local music educators on the same stage Russell Township Mayor Mike Tarnowski, who attended the concert, praised both the musicians and the broader community involvement surrounding the event.
“The evening was a wonderful celebration of music, community spirit, and the volunteer dedication that helps make Russell Township such a vibrant place,” Tarnowski wrote on Facebook. “The return of alumni members made the occasion even more meaningful, as the band marked many years of sharing its talent with our community.”
Tarnowski also highlighted the participation of students who sold snacks during the evening as part of fundraising efforts for a class trip to Paris.
The evening concluded with a standing ovation from the audience, prompting the band to return for an encore performance of the Fab Four’s Let It Be.
