A year of hard work, lots of fundraising, and dedicated students culminated in a memorable trip to Golden and Cranbrook for grade 11 and 12 students from Salmon Arm Secondary – Sullivan Campus.
After an early morning departure on Friday, June 2nd from Sullivan, students were whisked away through Rogers Pass along Highway 1 to Golden, catching beautiful views of mountains, lakes, and rivers along the way. Upon arriving in Golden, the group of 46 students comprising the concert band, jazz band, and choir set up for a performance at Lady Grey Elementary School.
The concert was a huge hit as kids of all ages were mesmerized by the sound of the choir and energized by the intricacy of the concert band. The concert finished with the popular music of How to Train Your Dragon which garnered a big cheer from the audience.
Sullivan music director Zachary Power remembers how inspiring concerts like these can be for young students. “When I was in elementary school, I can remember the buzz generated in the classroom when we heard the older kids were coming to perform for us. Those were always my favourite assemblies and I came away vibrating with excitement after each one. Those visits from the middle and high schools set me on a path of lifelong discovery and passion for music. I knew music had to be part of my life somehow thanks to those older kids.”
After a brief stop for lunch, the group had the afternoon to spend at the Golden Skybridge where students could traverse Canada’s highest suspension bridge 426 feet above the canyon floor. For those who dared cross the ravine, breathtaking views were their reward. For all students, the park provided a backdrop for great photos and some silliness with friends.
The bus ride down from Golden to Cranbrook was a highlight for many students who for the first time traveled the Columbia Valley to witness the majesty of the mountain ranges and the intriguing landscape. From the winding Columbia River to some gorgeous mountainscapes to the weathered Hoodoo formations near between Invermere and Canal Flats, students filled up their phones’ camera rolls with the lovely scenery.
The centrepiece of the trip was a collaboration with the Cranbrook Farmers Market. Saturday morning found a sunny sky looking down upon the Rotary Park gazebo where from 10 am to noon the jazz band, choir, and concert band took turns performing well-rehearsed pieces to a delighted crowd. One local resident, a former band student herself, was visiting the market with her toddler and was touched by how kind the Sullivan students were in sharing their time with the little girl. “So many of [them] engaged with her one-on-one and even showed her the workings of [their] instruments; she loved getting to move slides and push buttons, and just generally look at the loud shiny things. As a teacher as well as a newer parent, it warmed my heart to see how gentle and encouraging [they] all were with her.” The farmers market was extremely pleased to host the students and is hoping this visit will open the door for local Cranbrook schools to consider performing there as well.
After the performance, the group paid a visit to nearby Fort Steele Heritage Town for some tours, exploration, and a well-received schoolhouse experience. Their 1896-era teacher “Ms Bailey” guided them through 19th century lessons on slates, showed them how to play hoop and stick, and unfortunately had to put more than a few to writing lines on the chalkboard or even worse, in the dunce cap. The students had a lot of fun interacting with the school activity and came away with a lot of laughs.
Sunday morning saw the group spend time in the beautiful pools of Radium Hot Springs before heading home to Salmon Arm. Most students stayed in the heated area, but a few daring ones took a dip in the ice tub. “Refreshing” was not the word of choice for those who tried to outlast each other in the cold tub, but the warm pool was enjoyed by all.
There was a lot of work involved in getting ready for this trip. Not only did students meticulously prepare their repertoire throughout the year, but they also took leading roles in operating bottle drives, bake sales, raffles, and even a pie-throwing event. Moreover, the group is extremely thankful for donations to the program from the community, especially a significant contribution from the Shuswap Rotary Club which helped make this an affordable trip for all families. This was a terrific way to close off the year, and for many students, their last big trip before graduation, and the memories from this trip will last a lifetime.
If you would like a chance to come out and support Salmon Arm Secondary’s musical youth, the Sullivan and Jackson campuses will be hosting a joint concert for the concert and jazz bands on Wednesday June 21st at 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to the “warm up to Wednesday on the Wharf” with free admission! Donations are always appreciated and S’wichcraft Catering will be there with their food truck. Come on out for a lovely year-end concert!