The Manitoba Band Association’s Concert Band Festival is a celebration of music, learning, and community, bringing together students, directors, and adjudicators for an exciting week of performances and growth. Held at the RBC Convention Centre, the festival offers more than just an opportunity for students to showcase their skills; it’s a chance for everyone involved to learn, collaborate, and grow in their musical journeys.
The Students: A Journey of Learning and Growth
For students like Ryan and Micah from Westgate Collegiate, the Band Festival is more than a performance opportunity—it’s a transformative learning experience.
As Ryan says, “I think it's really special to just be able to come to a place like this and be... I don't want to say judged, but maybe, critiqued and listened to by other very high-level musicians. Because we obviously at Westgate have a very high-level director, Ross Brownlee... and he gives us lots of valuable feedback, but it's really special to hear what other musicians have to say; almost to tell us the same things in a different way from a different viewpoint.”
For Ryan, performing in front of an audience made up of students from other schools adds a new layer of excitement and focus to the experience. “Well, I find with school band concerts quite often you're performing to people you know and friends and family, whereas here at festival quite often you'll look out into the crowd, and you'll see so many students from other schools. And it's just a different feeling of... you get to present your craft to people you don't know. It really is all the build-up to one marvelous moment.”
Beyond performance, the festival also provides students with valuable lessons in musicianship and teamwork. As Ryan states, "Just the being able to work together so well. And how we're all brought together so much more through being at festival. Every single thing about it is a big learning experience...and definitely the togetherness of it.”
For Micah, the opportunity to listen to other bands and feel the emotion behind each performance is one of the most impactful aspects of the festival. “I think one of the most moving things about festival to me is just the opportunity to really, truly experience the music, not only when you're sitting in the chair playing, but also listening to others. You can really get to feel the emotion behind each instrument...And yeah, I just find that really special.”
The Band Directors: Fostering Growth and ConnectionBill
Band directors play a pivotal role in shaping students’ festival experiences, offering guidance and support while also gaining insights into their own teaching practices. Brian Zimmerman, a band director from Maples Collegiate, emphasized how the festival motivates students. “What I love most about teaching band is the process....but it really helps to have something to work towards if you just had class and no goal, then there wouldn't be as much point to what we're doing or it wouldn't be as motivating to the students.”
Zimmerman, who has been attending the festival for years, noted how important it is for students to see their musical efforts as part of a larger community. “You know you're in your own school and you have your band program and just to know that, oh, they're doing this everywhere. There's something going on very similar to what we're doing all over the place.”
For Jaclyn Loganberg, a long-time attendee and fellow band director at Maples Collegiate, the festival also serves as a valuable opportunity for professional development. “So I've been coming to this festival since 1985. Since I was a student of Bill Kristjanson at Minnetonka School. And so every year I learn. Every time I come, I listen to other bands, listen to other band directors, listen to the clinics, of course we get our own clinics, and it's just so refreshing to hear all the different points of view.”
The Adjudicators: Offering Expert Guidance and Insight
Adjudicators are an integral part of the festival, offering expert advice and feedback that helps students and directors grow. Danielle Gaudry, a professor at McGill University's Schulich School of Music and an adjudicator at the festival, shared her perspective on what makes a great band. “I think that what makes a band sound great is a combination of playing in a musical way, showing signs that they've rehearsed and that they've prepared...but it's often what feelings it elicits in the listeners and the people in the audience. So, I think we would all come up with a different definition of ‘how does a band sound great,’ but I think it's how it makes the audience feel oftentimes.”
As an adjudicator, Gaudry listens intently to the performances, offering feedback that helps students refine their skills and understanding of music. “It's really hard to be expressive if you haven't mastered the technique that goes into that piece. If you can't play the notes and the rhythms, it's really difficult to go beyond that and try to show expressiveness and do something more with the music.”
Gaudry, a former band student in St. Boniface, has a personal connection to the festival. “I performed at this festival as a student when I was in high school. I remember ...I have vivid memories of our performances and I can pinpoint one exact moment when I thought to myself, ‘wow! I think I want to be involved in this for the rest of my life. I love this.’ And then, several years later, I became a high school band director and so I brought my groups here to this very festival many, many times for many years. And so now, as an adjudicator on the other side of things, I think back to my own experiences and I keep coming back to this because I’m always inspired by what these teachers are doing with the students. How they bring music alive and I get inspired by these students who are in front of us and what they're doing to share the music that they're passionate about. And so for me, it's like being part of these students and their development and perhaps imparting something to them that they will take away from this festival.”
Another adjudicator, Mark Tse from the University of Saskatchewan, highlighted how festivals like this provide a holistic view of band teaching. “I used to teach high school for 11 years and so being an adjudicator, you get a holistic aerial view of band teaching. You're seeing it at its young age with young teachers to really experienced veterans, and you're seeing all the different repertoire that people are choosing, how they're approaching it and the successes that the students are coming to. So you're kind of getting a sense of education across on a very large field. I think that's fantastic.”
Behind the Scenes: School Administrators Supporting the Vision
While students, directors, and adjudicators take the spotlight during performances, the behind-the-scenes work that makes the festival possible for school bands is often overlooked. James Friesen, principal at Westgate, explained the importance of having a strong music program that integrates fully into the school community. “We've had this band program for so long and it's just an integral part of who we are as a school. Our whole music program. We don't consider that's kind of an extra thing about school; it’s part of what we do and it makes our whole education richer for our students.”
Friesen also shared how much the festival energizes the students. “Just driving here on the school bus with all the students, the smiles on their faces as they're coming into this space. You think of people coming to a performance, and it's all about getting nervous and everything like that, but they're all excited about this. It is like coming to a fun basketball game or something like that. It's got that kind of energy to it and it's really cool to see.”
Planning the Festival: A Year-Round Effort
The Manitoba Band Festival is a large-scale event that requires extensive planning, and Brent Johnson, executive director of the Manitoba Band Association, highlighted the many efforts that go into making it a success. "Planning for the festival starts nearly a year in advance," Johnson explained. "We have a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who work hard to ensure everything goes smoothly."
From securing adjudicators to scheduling performances, organizing logistical details is key. "We look at the students’ needs, the venue, and the types of performances we want to showcase," Johnson said. "It’s a detailed process that requires collaboration among many individuals, from band directors to volunteers."
One of the challenges faced by the festival organizers was ensuring a smooth experience despite unforeseen setbacks, such as the last-minute absence of adjudicators due to travel issues. As Johnson explains, “We are very fortunate to have a really wonderful community here and when I started making calls and sending text messages, by and large, the answer I got was yes. ‘What do you need? How can I help?’ And so we've had a number of really wonderful folks that I'm really honored to call friends and colleagues as well who have come out to help out this week.”
As the festival continues to grow in size and popularity, Johnson emphasized the importance of community involvement and the long-term vision for the event. "It’s all about fostering a sense of collaboration, both among students and teachers," he said. "The Band Festival is an event where everyone has a part to play, and that’s what makes it so special."
A Festival of Collaboration and Community
The Winnipeg Band Festival is a testament to the power of collaboration, with students, directors, adjudicators, and volunteers working together to create an unforgettable experience. While challenges—such as the unexpected absence of adjudicators due to travel issues—could have disrupted the event, the Winnipeg music community stepped up, ensuring the festival’s success. Local volunteers and musicians quickly filled the gaps, embodying the festival's spirit of resilience and cooperation.
“It’s amazing how everyone comes together," said Brent Johnson. "From the students to the adjudicators, the directors, and volunteers, it’s all about community and shared passion for music.”
As the festival continues to grow and evolve, its central focus remains the same: providing students with opportunities to showcase their talents, learn from each other, and become better musicians in the process. Whether performing, listening, or providing feedback, every participant plays a crucial role in the festival’s success—and in the continued growth of the music community.