Saturday night music showcase will be one to remember

On Saturday night, a concert like no other will be performed by the bands and choir of the Cochrane Music Society (CMS) with special guests Kyle Snow and Gina Onespot.

The choir and concert band have worked tirelessly to bring distinctly different music together, and the result is pure magic.

It's an opportunity to bridge cultures through the universal language of music. Outside of Bow Valley High, the new Indigenous Centre, Wazin Îchinabi Ti, will raise its tipi on the grass outside in tribute to this reconciliation effort. 

The music society believed it was important to explore the community's growing multicultural dynamic and celebrate the growing bond with the Indigenous community.

Band director Adam Mailman says it was challenging. 

"It's not easy to combine them, but because we got to rehearse a couple of times, we got to really play with each other and talk to each other and find out about each other's art styles. We found something that I think really works. It's really powerful and I'm so excited."

"The goal is to find out, go and be friendly, go and be curious. Be open to being surprised and learning something new, and then, yeah, make some friends, build some relationships, and make something amazing."

Three of the six pieces being performed by the Choral Waves were composed by Indigenous performers, says choir director Diego Bechthold.

"I think this is going to be one of the most meaningful concerts and experiences that Cochrane Music Society has done, given the nature of the music and the opportunity for collaboration with some of the Indigenous artists that live nearby," he says.

Riverside Jazz is taking a different approach and will be performing some truly authentic New York-style Jazz, says Mailman.

"The audience is going to love the cultural aspect of those pieces that dig into the culture of jazz in a couple of different ways that jazz has been expressed."

That includes a performance of Whiplash that was central to the theme of the movie of the same name written and directed by Damien Chazelle.

Jazz vocalist Leanne DeCoteau will also be performing two songs with Riverside Jazz.

The showcase is being held in the Bow Valley High gymnasium. Doors open at 6:15 and the concert begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors/youth, and it's free for children under 12.

Tickets are available online here or at the door.