Met Silver Band back at OP Nov. 25 for snow makeup

Director Fran Harvey and the Metropolitan Silver Band present the Wonder of Christmas Sunday at 2 p.m.

 

GRAVENHURST — Oh, the weather was looking frightful ….

That was the scene last March, when the Metropolitan Silver Band was scheduled to play the Gravenhurst Opera House, in the season’s second last performance presentation put on by the Muskoka Concert Association season.

So the concert was postponed until this weekend, Nov. 25.

Silver is gold say reviewers.

And although the weather is cold the next two days, it’s brightening up for this Sunday, and band director Fran Harvey assures the Blue Coats will be here — no matter what weather Hwy. 400 presents.

Call it a command performance.

In that spirit, they will present a concert in celebration of the holiday season titled, The Wonder of Christmas.

Young Huntsville saxophonist Gabby White is the featured youth performer. She takes the stage at 1:30 p.m.

According to White, “I’m currently a Grade 11 student at Huntsville High School. I started to play the alto saxophone in sixth grade at Riverside Public School and also got to be part of the music program at Huntsville Public School when I moved there.

“Since beginning my musical journey, I have collected 12 instruments and am learning to play five of them at the moment. At school, I am in three bands; the Senior Stage Band and  the Senior Concert Band.

“Outside school, I participate in Muskoka Concert Band and the Huntsville Harmony Youth Band.

“I won the Muskoka Concert Band Award and got to solo with the band in November 2017.

“My goal as a musician is to get a degree in music and hopefully be able to play in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.”

Harvey’s baton comes down on beat one at 2 p.m.

Come and hear this fabulous British style Brass Band kick off the holiday season with a wide variety of your favourite songs ranging from popular selections like William Gordon’s jazzy arrangement of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

And the fun-filled Partridge in a Pear Tree by Matt Kingston to Philip Sparke’s majestic arrangement of With Clouds Descending.

You will be able to hear the beautiful haunting Huron Carol with Brian Moyer as the cornet soloist and we will also feature Muskoka’s own singers Tracy Hoehner and Sherisse Stevens on Sparke’s arrangement of An English Christmas.

“And for some extra fun,” says Harvey, “you can even sing along with us on some of your own favourite carols.

“We’ll be looking forward to seeing you at our show.”

Sunday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m., Gravenhurst Opera House.