By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
As I write this week’s column, it is Nov. 12. Yesterday, the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet took part in the local Remembrance Day service. With a niece who is a retired Canadian Air Force lieutenant-colonel, it is especially important to Joni and me that we honour those who serve. Donating a little time and playing music is a minor contribution, but we are grateful to have been invited by our local Legion to participate over the years.
It was especially meaningful to have our original trombonist rejoin us for this performance. Our current player was unable to get away from work, so Doug Babbitt stepped in. His presence added to the day in more ways than one, as we all truly enjoy Doug and he is also a retired OPP officer. Our thanks go out to him, and to the large crowd who braved the cold to show respect for those who have served and those serving now.
With the calendar—and the weather—shifting toward a new season, holiday and Christmas concerts are now beginning in earnest. I want to share some information to help you find a musical gift this season, many of which are free opportunities to enjoy local talent.
The Pat Lee and Friends Choir opens the holiday season with two concerts on Nov. 22 and 23. This year’s theme is The Unexpected Gift. The roughly 30-member choir performs annually in Wallaceburg on the first evening and in Port Lambton the following day. The singers volunteer their time to spread holiday cheer and share their love of music. Although the concerts are free, donations are accepted, with proceeds from the Wallaceburg performance supporting the Salvation Army’s Snowflake Tree campaign and Port Lambton’s concert supporting Sacred Heart’s food bank in St. Clair Township. These concerts are an excellent way to start the festive season, and last year included instrumentalists and a dramatic reading.
Later this month, The Brass Factory will return to the stage for a special concert. The big band, founded by Dave Babbitt in 1982, has seen a few periods of hibernation over the decades but now features 18 musicians performing swinging big band arrangements. The upcoming performance will include Christmas favourites and special guest vocalists, all in support of fundraising for Wallaceburg’s hospital renovations. While this concert alone won’t raise the $9 million needed from the community, it promises to be an enjoyable way to kick off the effort.
For concert band fans, there are three groups within a short drive of Wallaceburg. The youngest of them, the Wallaceburg Concert Band, will perform on Dec. 6 and 9 in the Wallaceburg area. Dave Babbitt founded and has led this 60-piece ensemble through its ten years, and the group always finds a way to surprise audiences. Expect both traditional holiday selections and lively swing versions. The 3 Rivers Horn Choir will appear as special guests this year, including a very special guest performing alongside them. Those who miss the Wallaceburg dates can catch the band in Dresden shortly after.
If you feel like taking a drive, the Lambton Concert Band in Sarnia, directed by Tessa Catton, will present Christmas in Concert on Dec. 13 at the Sarnia Library Theatre. The 50-piece community band is entering its 25th year and performs a mix of traditional and musically challenging holiday works. Catton’s leadership gives this ensemble a dynamic range that makes it well worth the trip, perhaps paired with a meal and a tour of Sarnia’s festive lights.
Chatham’s own Concert Band will perform at St. Paul’s Congregational Church on Dec. 17. Musical director Vaughn Pugh noted that, rather than hosting their biannual Christmas concert at the Capitol Theatre, the group chose St. Paul’s because it is a fitting setting for a holiday program and offers ample free parking. With a full complement of 35 musicians, the ensemble will perform traditional favourites along with some unique selections. Fun fact: Joni and I play in all three concert bands, and only one piece appears on every program—Sleigh Ride.
Closing out the local holiday concert season is the Wallaceburg Brass Quintet and Friends Chamber Concert on Dec. 19, now in its third year. This event brings together small ensembles from an ever-widening musical circle, creating an intimate atmosphere with performers from Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent and London. The program features the quintet, a clarinet quartet, the 3 Rivers Horn Choir and other mixed-instrument groups. Traditional seasonal music is at the heart of the concert, though there are always fun surprises. The event, supported by the CK Arts Council, offers a wonderful final dose of musical inspiration to carry you into the holiday spirit. Donations will be accepted by the Chatham Rotary Club for Wallaceburg programs.
With so much music filling the coming weeks, there is no shortage of opportunities to enjoy the talent across our region. I hope you can take in at least one of these performances and share in the spirit of the season.
