By Wayne Elmer and Anne Bonnycastle, WPGA Music Directors

We are pleased and excited to announce the WPGA Senior School Winter Concert will be held this year at the Chan Centre on the UBC campus on Monday, Dec. 7th at 7:00 pm. (Note the date change from Dec. 8.) 

The WPGA senior choir, jazz choir, strings, jazz and concert bands will present a wonderful program of assorted seasonal, classic and popular repertoire for your enjoyment. This year, the evening will feature a carol sing-along between ensemble presentations, and seasonal refreshments will be provided following the concert in the lobby, where sample works of our senior fine arts students will be on display.

We would like to extend a special invitation to junior school parents to come and hear our senior music students perform, and to witness the results of our students' musical efforts which grow out of the junior school music program.

Please read a special invitation from Mr. Mark Tourigny, WPGA parent and board member:

“Junior school parents! For nine years while our daughters were in the junior school, Mr. Austin would announce to the parents at the junior school concerts "Last night was the senior school concert... it was magnificent... you should have attended... I encourage you to attend next year... " We never did. It was always a busy time of year and, I am embarrassed to admit, we were just a bit skeptical that the senior school concerts could live up to Mr. Austin's exuberance.

Well, the senior school concerts do indeed live up to Mr. Austin's exuberance! They really are magnificent and you really should attend! This is our third year of being treated to the talent and dedication of our senior school musicians and faculty. Come out, enjoy the grandeur of The Chan Centre, and listen to what our senior school musicians can do!”

All are invited to attend our concert, and complimentary tickets can be reserved through registering on the WPGA website - please visit our online calendar and click on the WPGA Senior School Concert link on December 7th to register or click here.

Concert tickets are free of charge; donations to our music programmes will be welcomed at the door. Last year’s concert ‘sold out’ early, so reserve your tickets now and don’t be disappointed. Parking is available at the Rose Garden Parkade (next to the Chan Centre), 6278 North West Marine Drive.

Once again this year, while not mandating student attendance, we are inviting our students to enjoy an evening among friends and faculty at the Chan Centre, celebrating the season through music appreciation. We do expect a full house again in the spirit of our students honouring traditions and supporting all members of our school community. Dress for students is dressy casual.

Attending students will receive a hand-stamp earning them a chance to wear their favourite hoodie or sweater to school on the following day, December 8th.

Performers will meet with their ensemble at the theatre on the day of the event for a 4:00pm dress rehearsal, pizza dinner and warm up. Doors will open at 6:30pm, and we are asking audience members to arrive early to secure seating and to ensure a 7:00pm start.

Students have been working hard in class time and rehearsals to prepare for this engagement. Please join us in celebration of the holiday season and our students’ musical accomplishments in first term.