NEWS RELEASE
UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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On Saturday evening the GCVI, Centennial, and JF Ross music departments will be combining forces for a special concert in support of the Canadian Red Cross. There will be performances by each school's senior bands, and for a special finale the 3 school bands will be combining for a mass band performance of Brian Balmages' pieces "Moscow, 1941" and "Kyiv, 2022"
American composer Brian Balmages originally composed "Moscow, 1941" is 2006. The piece is a musical homage to the Russian army defeating the German invasion during the second world war. It would go on to be one of Balmages most famous pieces and has been performed multiples of thousands of times worldwide over the past 15 years. Following the recent Russian invasion of the Ukraine, Balmages felt compelled to write a sequel entitled "Kyiv, 2022". Balmages describes the piece as follows:
"Written as a powerful sequel to Moscow, 1941, this work changes the narrative, where the theme from Moscow now represents the aggressor, and the heroic people of Ukraine are represented by the Ukrainian National Anthem and the powerful song Prayer for Ukraine. Certain to spark discussions about humanity, history, and culture, this piece can easily be performed alongside Moscow, 1941 or in place of it. All net proceeds of the initial release are going to relief organizations."
The mass band performance will feature approx. 120 students from the 3 schools and will be conducted by special guest conductor, Dr. Colleen Richardson, Director of the Western University Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band, and President-Elect of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
The concert will begin at 7pm in the EL Fox Auditorium at John F Ross Collegiate. There will be a freewill donation taken at the door, with all proceeds going towards support the Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Causes around the world.
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