Windjammers Celebrate 25 Years

September 25, 2017

Tickets Now On Sale at River Run Centre

GUELPH, ON September 25, 2017 – River Run Centre is pleased to announce the return of Windjammers, Canada’s Finest Pops Wind Ensemble, on May 29, 2018 at 7 pm. This much anticipated concert will mark the group’s 25th Anniversary and the dedication of more than forty talented volunteers that have contributed to the success of the ensemble over all these years.

Harry Currie, the founder, artistic director and conductor of Windjammers, is thrilled of the success over these 25 years. “The principal reasons for this are the dedication of the players, their high standards, and the music which appeals to the audiences,” he said. “We’ve filled halls to capacity in Mississauga, Brampton and many others, including the River Run Centre, and we’ve raised over $10,000 for the tsunami catastrophe in Thailand and the same amount for the Military Family Fund in a joint concert with the RCAF Central Band from Ottawa.”

Currie was invited to Thailand in 2005 to create a wind ensemble there similar to Windjammers, the reason was to play a birthday concert for the King’s daughter, the Princess Royal’s 50th birthday. Then invited to be the western music supervisor at two Thai universities, he has lived there ever since, returning to Canada twice a year for Windjammers concerts and UW convocations. “Windjammers at 25 will be my retirement,” he said. “In April 2018 I’ll be 87 years old, and it’s time for a younger, more lively conductor to take over. Windjammers has been one of the most marvellous episodes of my life in music which has taken me around the world.”

In 1990 Currie had formed the Convocation Winds for the University of Waterloo, a 20-piece band of carefully selected musicians. Very soon some of these players asked him if he could do the same for a full-scale wind ensemble. He did so, and in order to play every type of wind arrangement he added a second tenor sax, piano, string bass and a drum set. Windjammers have much to celebrate. In their early years focus was kept to supporting local charities through free of charge events, and today they entertain audiences in major halls across Southern Ontario with their classical, standards, big band and jazz repertoire.

Join us this spring and be captivated by the smooth stylings of this regional treasure. When asked what audiences are to expect at this milestone event, Artistic Director and Conductor Harry Currie explained, “the best music from all [our] programs over the last 25 years; from Broadway, Latin, Movies, War and Remembrance, Fall into Christmas, Flying Around the World and a dozen others.” Currie has been blessed to have worked with many executive members including; Manager Catherine Masi, Concertmaster and Librarian Richard Watson, Host Gabriella Currie-Ziegler, Visuals Dr. David Brown, and web-gurus Peter Revie and Mark Richardson. Windjammers is a very passionate group who continue to engage Southern Ontario communities and stir their appreciation of the arts.

Tickets will surely to be swept away quickly for this celebratory performance. Throw caution to the wind, buy yours today! Windjammers tickets are $25. $20 uGO tickets are available to college and university students with valid ID. $5 eyeGO tickets are available to high school students with valid ID. Tickets can be purchased at River Run Centre box office, 35 Woolwich St. in Guelph, by calling 519-763-3000, or online at riverrun.ca/windjammers-celebrating-25-years

Media Contact:

Angela McEwen
Marketing and Development Coordinator
River Run Centre
519-837-5662 extension 2493
[email protected]

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