The Nicola Valley Community Band is warming up for a slew of upcoming performances, including a special performance at Victoria’s Government House on the invitation of Lieutenant-Governor Judy Guichon.
Guichon, who once played flute in the band, invited the group to help celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation on June 2.
“It’ll be fun. We have a lovely bandstand on the grounds,” Guichon said.
“It’s a special honour to be invited to play at Government House,” tuba player Steve Rose said. “It’s a huge special event. There could be upwards of three to four thousand people at this thing.”
The band, which has about 20 members, is holding a fundraising concert at the Culture Club on April 5 to cover its remaining travel costs after receiving $800 from Government House.
Rose said the show will be a departure from the band’s usual marches.
“It’ll be a cabaret-style, relaxing sort of a concert,” Rose said. “It’s going to cost a lot of money for this trip down to Victoria, but Victoria’s probably going to be our highlight of the year.”
The band is also performing on April 26 at the Civic Centre for the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council’s 30th anniversary celebration before hitting the road for Langley on May 31 for a joint concert with the Langley Community Band.
“We’ll spend Saturday with them touring around Langley,” Rose said. “They have some things planned for us. We had them here last summer, so it’s our turn to go down there.”
The band will then catch a ferry for Victoria for their afternoon performance at Government House.
“It’ll be a long day, but that’s OK,” Rose said.
Later in June, the band will wrap up their season with the annual Friday with Friends show at Quilchena Hotel.
“The hotel just gets jammed out there. It’s a very popular event,” Rose said.
Tickets to the fundraiser concert on April 5 are $10 apiece and available from band members. The show starts at 7 p.m.
