Met Silver Band presents Spirit of Brass April 14 at the Opera House
GRAVENHURST— Celebrate spring at the Gravenhurst Opera House Sat. April 14 as the Muskoka Concert Association presents the Metropolitan Silver Band and its Spirit of Brass Concert.
The show starts at 7 p.m. and features a great brass band music with something for everyone’s taste.
You’ll be able to hear Terra Nova, based in Ode to Newfoundland by Canadian composer Doug Chaulk and Ty Watson’s incredibly powerful Juno 1944, which depicts the Juno Beach landing on D Day.
For classical fans they have included Mozart’s most popular opera overture, The Marriage of Figaro and Elgar’s Nimrod.
Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s magnificent Fire in the Blood is sure to move you and for those of you who like a little lighter fare mixed in, we have Down by the Riverslide (yes, slide!) and Mr. Sandman.
They look forward to seeing you at the Gravenhurst Opera House to celebrate spring with the Spirit of Brass!
The Metropolitan Silver Band was founded in 1931 and has been associated with Metropolitan United Church of Toronto since 1934.
The only brass band in the United Church of Canada, the Band is a vital part of the Met’s music ministry.
In addition to playing the Met’s worship services six times a year, their annual schedule of 18 events sees them performing at churches and concert venues in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond, including to Muskoka.
Last year they played a combined concert at the Huntsville Summit Centre with the Muskoka Concert Band.
They are also proud of their extensive recording history, and will be releasing a new CD of sacred music this fall.
Their repertoire includes classics, marches, musicals, religious music, popular selections, and contemporary works written and arranged for brass band.
Over the years, they have also visited many communities in Ontario, and beyond, including our first visit with our friends in the Buffalo Silver Band in 2016.
They have competed in brass band contests at the CNE, played picnics at Casa Loma, participated in a telethon, performed fund-raising concerts for numerous charities and entertained in a quaint band shell in a town park.
For many years they have enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship of other brass band musicians at the Community Showcase – part of the Hannaford Street Silver Band’s annual Festival of Brass.
To date, they have also embarked on three successful performance tours – two in Ontario and an unforgettable series of concerts and services in the Maritimes.
The Met has been fortunate to have strong, loyal leadership over the years with only seven bandmasters in their long history.
Their current director is Fran Harvey, an accomplished musician and music educator.
A member of the Met for over 20 years (originally as a cornet and flugelhorn soloist), she holds degrees in Music and Education from the University of Toronto and Athabasca University.
In addition to conducting the Met, she has conducted performances by the Thornhill Community Band, North Toronto Concert Band, and Northdale Concert Band.
After many years as a music educator and school principal in the York Region District Board of Education, Harvey is busy enjoying retirement from education in Muskoka, where she commutes each week with her drummer husband, Paul Middoch, for rehearsals and concerts.
