The Valley Winds Music Association has big things happening this year.
Big things … Like the group’s 20th anniversary, the fifth annual Oh What A Night dance on April 5 and a May 2 and 4 spring concert which, as Ed Sullivan would have said, will be a “really big show.”
First up is the Oh What A Night fundraiser, where everyone can dance and/or dine to the Valley Winds’ Big Band sounds, along with Calgary guests The Midnight Blue Jazz Band at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre.
This year’s Oh What A Night will be held in the Radisson for the first time as both the band and the popularity of the fundraising evening have been growing.
“And the Radisson has been very, very supportive of us as a community group,” said Lee Ann DeCoteau.
“This year, we’ll have big bands songs that cross a range from the big band era, to R&B, to funk … and we’ll have something for every age group. It’s a chance for those who love to ballroom dance to come out and strap on their shoes. We’ll even have some dance lessons between sets.”
Currently, Valley Winds, which is composed of a big band, concert band and choir, and began with about 30 members, has more than 100 members and is growing.
“Our association is definitely growing as we see new people move to the valley and we’re attracting younger folk, which is fantastic,” said DeCoteau.
“This is a very important fundraiser for us. We’re trying to keep our fees down and this enables us to do that.”
In May, the Valley Winds’ Sullivan-like big show will be a spring concert that will feature all members for performances May 2 at the Canmore Curling Club and May 4 at The Banff Centre’s Eric Harvie Theatre.
With grant assistance, Valley Winds has commissioned composer Jeff Christmas to create a piece to commemorate the June 2013 flood. The piece, which features lyrics written by Christmas’ mother, Connie, is titled “Rainbow Through The Rain (Tribute to Bow Valley resiliency).”
“We’ve been rehearsing at Ralph Connor Church,” said DeCoteau, “and it’s getting pretty crowded. This is going to be quite the big production for us. Really big.”
The theme of the commissioned piece is the resiliency of Bow Valley citizens who supported each other during and after the devastating flood.
Tickets for Oh What A Night are $30 for dance only or $70 for dance and dinner at Vic’s Steakhouse. Tickets are available at O’ Canada Soapworks (633 Main Street, Canmore), from members or at www.valleywindsmusic.org.
The event runs from 8 p.m. to midnight and there will snacks and a cash bar.
