Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) received funding from the Canadian Big Band Celebration (CBBC) on Friday, January 18th.
CBBC is held each year in September and, this year, will celebrate its 26th big band weekend, where accomplished musicians and performers from across Canada come to Saugeen Shores to share their talents. It also gives an opportunity for local entertainers to take to the stage.
This year, will be a special thrill for the SDSS students as they have been asked to open the highlight event on Saturday at the UNIFOR Family Education Centre. The Saturday event is an afternoon of music and dance from the big-band era and music teacher, Kerri Lynn Boys, says the students are already excited and are in preparation mode.
“These funds are so appreciated,” said Boys, “as we can now purchase more sheet music.”
CBBC, a non-profit organization, also helped four young music students in 2019 attend the annual Summer Music Camp held in Saugeen Shores. The camp enables students to study with some of the best musicians in the world in what are considered almost ‘Master’ classes.
“Its very important that we foster a love of music and musicianship for our young people,” says CBBC founder, Charlie Bell.
Last year, Southampton Rotary Club also sponsored 25 music students from across Bruce County schools to attend the afternoon event in order to hear some of the best musicians perform big-band music.
The weekend is a remembrance of a time when dance halls, many of them located in communities along the Lake Huron Shoreline – Kincardine, Port Elgin, Sauble Beach and others, enabled people to enjoy the music of the day and brought visitors into the area from far and wide.
