Newsletter

FROM THE DESK OF THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

A big thank-you to Margaret Behenna for conducting the Delta Music Makers during the busy December period. It is a wonderful feeling to know that the band is in such good hands while we’re away. Canceling the Delta Hospital Extended Care concert was the obvious decision during that snowy Sunday, as nobody wanted to end up at the other side of the hospital in Emergency. We hear from players and audience alike that the Genesis Theatre concert was a success, and that the DMM played extremely well! Jhandie and I were cruising through the Mediterranean, and along the Rhine River in frozen Germany. Renate and Bernie Marquardt send their greetings to all from Germany.

Our goal for January, February, March and April is to gear up for the 25th Anniversary Concert on April 20. I am asking the committee to entertain the idea of recording the concert, to create our third CD. If that doesn't work out, then we will attempt a “studio recording” later in the year, aiming for a CD to be ready before Christmas of 2008.

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT

Happy 2008 to all of you! I hope you feel refreshed and ready for another exciting year with the DMM.

I wish to thank you all for your many commitments in 2007. Musicians, Directors, Board Members, Committee members and Band-Aids have all made commendable contributions to the success of the DMM.

The Scotland / Ireland tour was a great success due to the meticulous planning of (Hugh) Martell Travel and Curt and Jhandie. Our members showed excellent musicianship under some arduous conditions under the skilful leadership of Curt and Margaret.

It is regrettable that our Christmas concert season was cut short to one performance instead of three. We made up for it by our excellent performance at the Genesis Theatre. Thank you, Margaret, for taking up the baton in Curt’s absence, and for your kind comments. (See Margaret’s comments below).

I would like to welcome new member, Sherry Lowes, on tenor saxophone, who was encouraged to join by her friend Elvira Gee on French Horn. Also, welcome back Terri Calvert and Carol Pearson on trombone, we missed you; and David Hopkins on clarinet, returning for his second term.

DMM Board of Directors

Non-voting:
Music Director – Curt Jantzen & Assistant Music Director - Margaret Behenna
Voting:
President – Doug Akerman
Secretary – Michele McLaurin
Treasurer – Pat Hull
Corresponding Secretary – Michele McLaurin
Nominating Chair – Ann Bates
Web-Master – Paul Ferry
Past President – Brian Ellis
Curt Radke, Casey Blackwell, Hugh Martell, Brenda Khoo, Janet Friesen, Gus Nielsen

Current Working Committees

There are currently nine different committees within the DMM; the busiest ones right now are “Fund and Grants”, “25th Anniversary Concert”, and “Ladner Bandfest”.

Besides the committees, there are individuals who perform ongoing tasks in the background. We will publish an updated list in the near future. There is much work done in the background to make the DMM such a vibrant and healthy organization.

Doug Akerman

CONGRATULATIONS:

• Ja-On Park, flute player, and Beth Roslyn, 9lb, on November 6th.
• Curt and Jhandie Jantzen are celebrating 40 years of marriage on February 7... they got married at 19, and everyone said it would never last!!!

REHEARSALS

Term Dates
Winter 2008 Jan. 8 - March 11 10 wks $60
Spring 2008 April 1 - June 17 12 wks $72
Summer 2008 July 8 – July 22 3 wks $20
Fall 2008 Sept. 9 - Dec. 16 15 wks $80

CONCERTS AND ACTIVITIES

1. January 19, Saturday, 25 Year Band Party at Ann Bates’ house on 5 Road near Steveston Hwy, Richmond – start 5 pm, eat at 6 pm.
2. April 20, Sunday, 2pm, our first ticketed concert, at Genesis Theatre. (See full information below.)
3. June 7-8, Saturday-Sunday, Ladner Bandfest at Memorial Park, hosted by the Delta Music Makers.
4. Date TBA, recording of our third CD.

25th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT April 20th

Twenty-five years is a wonderful landmark and Curt can be justly proud of how the band has evolved. The band surely has surpassed his original concept to form a “learner group” of musicians! From its modest beginning in 1983, the Delta Music Makers Concert Band has achieved success after success, while always keeping learning and FUN as the two basic goals. And we are proud to have some “25-year charter members” who remain committed participants and accomplished musicians.

As current members, we need to celebrate this significant milestone with a concert that will feature our band at its best. At the same time, we can share our enthusiasm for what we love to do by sharing this event with family, friends, the general public, and fellow musicians.

Thanks to a hard-working committee, the 25th Anniversary Concert is now in the planning stages. It will be held at the Genesis Theatre on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. This will be our first ever “Paid Admission” concert! After a quarter-century of free concerts, and 25 years of giving to our community, we owe it to ourselves to take this step and we all know that the band can certainly use the infusion of funds that will accrue.

The Genesis Theatre seats 400, and tickets will be sold for $10 each. There will be no requirement for band

members to each sell a set number of tickets. However, every band member is being asked to give some thought to as many possibilities for ticket sales as they can. The more “targeted” tickets we sell, the less we will have to rely on sales to the general public. We plan to organize a concession with coffee, tea and cookies, and an upper lobby wine bar.

Our Director of Music, Curt Jantzen, together with assistant Directors Margaret Behenna and Brenda Khoo and committee member Cheryll McIntyre will collaborate on what will surely be a memorable program.

I am sure that band members will give this ambitious project their full support. Thank you!

Gus Nielsen
Chair, 25th Anniversary Concert Committee

Dear Music Makers:

Thank you so much for the gift certificate to La Strada Restaurant in Ladner and the ticket to The Producers, in June. I know that you presented me with these generous gifts in appreciation for your use of the music room for the many years I was the music director at this school. As an educator and someone who is passionate about music, I was always so pleased that you were in "my school" because it was an example to my students that music is for "life" and I often would tell them about all these "old people" that came together at night to make music. But, I am humbled by my gift because it really involved no effort on my part other than trying to create a welcoming atmosphere for all of you. You are a generous, kind, warm group of people, connected by music and committed to it as well and I appreciate this generosity.

Margaret