“Saugeen Shores and our surrounding communities support a thriving musical scene in all genres,” says Don Burns, President of Summer Music Society. “Like all other performers, since the last Port Elgin Community Band rehearsal on March 12th, our local concert bands have not been able to practise, perform and make music for our community. This summer was the first in over 25 years where Summer Music camp was also not a part of our summer listening.”
“Over this time,” he added, “our community has missed enjoying school music nights, community concerts, piano recitals and bands in the park. Many of our local musicians who come to Summer Music every year were looking for a way to give our community a small bit of that music back. As such, the musicians who come together every year in July instead came together, from afar, to make music.”
The Festival Winds Concert Band consists of many local current and retired Bluewater District School Board music teachers, students from award winning local music programs, community players, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and nationally renowned musicians from the Toronto music scene among others.
All of these players came together to record, from their homes, the Saugeen Shores Overture, by David Eastmond. This piece was commissioned by the Summer Music Society for Summer Music’s 30th anniversary in 2017. It embodies the beauty of the rolling fields, bustling towns and panoramic sunsets of Saugeen Shores through music.
“We felt there was no better piece to come together and perform,” said Burns. “With summer of 2020 in its last days, we wanted to share our music with the community in the hopes that it would bring a smile to the ears of those we normally see every year as campers or members of our in our audiences. Grab a pair of headphones or listen on the best stereo in your house to this beautiful piece of music. While camp this summer was cancelled, the Summer Music Society is already looking forward to Summer Music 2021 being held from July 18th – 23rd at Saugeen District Senior School.
“We believe that 2021 will be our best year ever with our new Adult Contemporary Choral, Instrumental, Jazz, Vocal and Children’s programs returning to Saugeen Shores along with fabulous Festival Winds performances and our Gala student concerts,” says Burns. “In the meantime, we hope everyone stays safe, enjoys a bit of music and gets prepared for the best band season ever in 2021.
