Students set to Jazz up New West

What better way to spend a Friday night than to tap your toes and enjoy some local music from some up-and-coming musicians?

What’s more, you can find them right here in New Westminster.

For Isobel Wright—who plays trombone—and for Gabe Junio—who you’ll spot on the drum kit—performance nights like the one coming up on Friday, May 12 at New West Secondary (NWSS) mean a lot to them, especially with both looking into a career related to music and/or the arts.

“I’m planning on pursuing a career in Jazz performance,” Wright says with no hesitation; Junio adds he’s still trying to nail down the specifics.

Wright and Junio—who are both in Grade 11—will be among 60 students from Grades 9 to 12 playing their hearts out. For Wright, she’s looking forward to the relatively informal tone of the evening.

“The lighting isn’t dimmed on the audience, there’s food at the table, and it’s just really, really fun,” she elaborates.

For Junio, this is just one aspect of music that is important to him: he’s been a part of a variety of ensembles, and for him performances work in tandem with giving back to the community. It’s a principle he says is transposable for someone who plays the drums.

“I just like the feeling of being the backbone in the Jazz ensemble. It feels like my role helps solidify the whole group. I like bringing others up with the instrument I play,” Junio tells The Anchor, adding it’s a skill he likes to practice through music-related mentorship. Both are part of a program that pairs them with students at the middle school level.

“[I look] forward to seeing all the students come from the middle schools, and helping them, giving them tips, and just teaching them everything I can pass down…so they can better themselves with their instruments,” he says. Wright says she too is excited to see more beginner level musicians get to playing. “I just want to pass on what I know, and I want to help.”

The ensemble recently travelled to Montreal and Whistler, and while they didn’t get to play as much music this time around as they would have liked to, they were just happy to be surrounded by others who enjoy performing. Funds raised from the evening’s performances will go towards initiatives like these.

For the group’s band director Steve Clements—who also teaches English at NWSS—he says it’s an opportunity for the community to watch talented youngsters in their element. “It’s inspiring for us as teachers to watch the kids develop their musicianship and to see them be on stage, and have them shine.” Clements adds that many of these students were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, so every opportunity to play in front of a live audience helps take their learning experiences the extra mile.

“They’re spreading the love they have for music, trickling down through to Grade 10, Grade 9. It’s just a wonderful thing watching this process continue to unravel. We need to keep music going,” Clements elaborates.

New West Anchor is giving away tickets to the event, and anyone can enter until Thursday, May 11 at 3pm. We will announce the winner of the tickets via our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages on Thursday, May 11 at 7pm.

You can purchase a ticket for $35. To keep up with the musings of these young musicians, be sure to follow the latest on what they’re getting up to at this page.