Selkirk College Music Students to Shine in Showcase Concerts
By Bob Hall
Second-year Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology Program students are ready to cue the lights on their annual showcase concerts featuring emerging talent from budding musicians.
“It’s the highlight of their two years at Selkirk College,” says Selkirk College Keyboard/Arranging Instructor Gilles Parenteau. “Our students put these showcases together to demonstrate what they’ve learned and it’s a chance to really express who they are as musicians.”
Starting March 10, there will be 12 nights of fantastic entertainment filling Nelson’s Shambhala Music & Performance Hall.
Mitchell Hahn is one of 20 students that will bring a wide array of musical genres to the stage including folk, rock, jazz, funk and heavy metal.
“I’ve seen some really awesome electronic music with synth medleys, guitar solos that are just jaw dropping, and some incredible song writing,” he says. “For opening night [March 10] James Villa and I have partnered up and we’ll be playing all original songs. The night will feature some awesome electric soul, dramatic alt rock, psychedelic pop, and funk-hop. I’m excited. It should be a special night.”
At the end of their music education, the learning and evaluation continues through these performances where students handle every aspect of putting a show together. From lighting and sound to their promotional poster and what they will say on stage, the musicians must consider even the little things like taking the snare drum off the stage before a ballad so it doesn’t vibrate, explains Parenteau.
Hahn, a singer and guitar player, says skills learned in the classroom are easy to understand in theory but putting on a professional show forces students to put it all together and deal with any problems in a dynamic real-life scenario.
“It’s your show and if things go wrong, it’s on you,” he says.
The public is welcome to attend the event at Nelson’s Shambhala Music & Performance Hall on the Tenth Street Campus where the students traditionally play before packed houses.
Like other students, Hahn has family in town to see the show. He’s really looking forward to seeing it all come together for the classmates who’ve been putting in great effort.
“Sharing your music is one of the most rewarding things we as musicians can do so we’re all very excited at the opportunity,” he says.
The dates of the upcoming shows and the students featured are:
March 10: Mitch Hahn and James Villa
March 11: Taryn McMaster and Ryan Mildenberger
March 15: Michael Tylo and Brittany Keller
March 17: Blake Unruh and David Hecht
March 18: Jon Kwak and Amanda Cawley
March 21: Jess Chan and Jane Cho
March 22: Travis Flello and Wes Hughes
March 23: Liam Mackenzie and Nikki Wozney
March 24: Sophie Moreau Parent and SallieMae Salcedo
March 29: Lachlan Tocher and Alessandro Niro
March 31: Ami Cheon and Lucas Burrows
April 1: Nathan Swift and Ashley Pearce
The doors open at 7 p.m. with music starting at 7:30 p.m. The showcases are free. Donations are welcome.
