On March 5 to 7 School District 49 and the Valley Arts Council were able jointly to bring the Foothills Brass Quintet to Bella Coola for a community concert, and to work with students in the schools and stage school performances. This is not the first time Foothills brass has been brought in to perform and work with students. They came in 1982 when they first formed and again in 2000.
There are some new faces, but they continue to perform with professional skill and make music fun and entertaining. In fact the trombone player told me that he first heard Foothills Brass when he was in Grade 3!
On the Sunday night we were treated to a full and varied concert at Lobelco Hall. Certainly for some of the younger members of the audience a rendition of the Harry Potter theme was one of the highlights. There was a gratifying turn out which went a good way to covering costs. A number of the audience remember the regular concerts the Arts Council sponsored in years gone by, and were pleased to have the opportunity to hear once again a professional group of this caliber in Bella Coola.
We are grateful to Pacific Coastal Airlines, Hagensborg Holdings and other volunteers who helped organize the visit and provide accommodation and transportation. The quintet were a congenial group who adapted quickly to Bella Coola peculiarities, and appeared to be genuinely happy to have the opportunity to visit the Valley.
A reminder to readers that the Festival of the Arts featuring adjudicated performances by students and community members will be held April 18 and/or 19. Also on May 27 there will be a concert by the Joe Trio, featuring former Bella Coola resident Allen Stiles on piano.