If some teenagers come knocking on your door on Thursday night, please answer.
It’ll be the New Westminster Secondary School music department out collecting donations for the school’s annual Fan-Of-The-Bandathon fundraiser blitz. Students and parents will be knocking on doors between 6 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20.
The Fan-Of-The-Bandathon is set for Saturday, Nov. 5, and it will bring students of all ages – from grades 9 through 12 – together to play music for 12 hours.
“Older and younger students inspire each other by playing alongside each other all day,” explains a press release.
The music department hopes to raise $14,000 to help students participate in spring tours. The senior choirs will be travelling to the Rocky Mountain Music Festival in Banff in April 2017, while senior concert and jazz bands are participating in an exchange to Ottawa in March 2017 (and hosting a return visit from their partner school later in the spring). Junior bands will be heading to Sun Peaks for the Con Brio Music Festival.
Money raised will also help the department purchase string instruments for the growing string ensemble, plus a baritone saxophone (valued at $3,500) and an acoustic bass (valued at $1,500) t6hat will be shared by students.
Other money will help students with financial need participate in a variety of music activities.
Be sure to lend a hand if you can. Music has the power to change lives for the better – and NWSS has been doing just that for many, many years.
BEYOND THE WHEEL
The New Westminster Museum is reaching out with a film screening in connection with its ongoing exhibition Ornamenting the Ordinary: Crafts of South Asia.
The museum has paired with the South Asian Film Education Society for a screening of Beyond the Wheel, set for Saturday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the food hall at River Market. The movie explores the world of Indian pottery.
The screening will also include a panel discussion looking at how the ideas presented in the film may apply to New Westminster. Registration is recommended – call 604-527-4640 (program number 152980).
NATURAL BEAUTY
Art lovers, be sure to stop in to check out a new exhibition at the Amelia Douglas Gallery.
The gallery at Douglas College (on the fourth floor at 700 Royal Ave.) is presenting Jayeonmi (Natural Beauty) from Thursday, Oct. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 10.
The exhibition features multimedia works by Korean-Canadian artist Ilsoo Kyung.
An opening reception is set for Thursday, Oct. 27 from 4:3p to 7:30 p.m., with refreshments, no-host bar and live music.
An artist’s talk will also be given on Friday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. in the gallery.
ROYAL CITY ON FILM
Want to enjoy a history of the city on film? The Anvil Centre is playing host to Royal City: The Movie on Sunday, Oct. 23 from 2 to 3 p.m.
During the early 1950s, the province produced a series of films promoting some of B.C.’s cities, including New Westminster.
“Shot in full colour around 1950, accompanied by a narrator and soundtrack, it offers a look into varied aspects of city life: its culture, its commerce and more,” a write-up about the screeningnotes.
A roundtable discussion about the film will follow.
The fun is all happening in Room 417 of the Anvil Centre. Registration is needed, and it’s geared for ages 14 and up. Call 604-527-4640 (program number 152442).
GOLDEN AGE FUN
The Golden Age Theatre Group is returning to the stage to prove that getting older is no barrier to fun and creativity.
The theatre group takes to the stage on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29 at Century House.
Margo Prentice directs the evening, which includes a number of short productions.
Margot Denny and Nancy Fidgett both make their acting debut in It’s Not About Pot Roast, while George Bosnick, Michael Anthony and Peter Brown take to the stage for It’s Hell Getting Old.
Claudette Campbell joins Bosnick for The Stick-Up, while Anthony and Brown return for New Car Shopping.
Susan Einarsson will also bring her Phyllis Diller impersonation to the stage.
Century House is at 620 Eighth St.
The show runs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $8 for members and $10 for non-members, and refreshments will be served. For more information, call 604-519-1066.
CULTURAL FUSION
Music lovers can enjoy a unique form of cultural fusion at River Market on the last weekend of October.
Kimchi Haggis will be on hand with a free music performance and workshop for kids, part of the ArtStarts series of free workshops.
It’s set for Sunday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. Each workshop is set to be 45 minutes long.
Kimchi Haggis is the pairing of Scottish bagpipe player Joe MacDonald and Korean sitar player Andrew Kim.
“Fusing Scottish traditional music with Indian sitar, African kalimba, guitar, electronic beats and instruments from around the world, they demonstrate that music knows no boundaries,” a press release says.
It’s free, and you don’t have to register ahead, but you are encouraged to arrive early as sessions are usually popular.
See www.artstarts.com/events for more details.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
