Thanks to eight dedicated and talented young musicians and retired Osoyoos Elementary School music teacher Anne Murseli, the Osoyoos Secondary School Concert Band has managed to survive. Murseli (on piano) and the concert band members performed at the former Cactus Ridge retirement residence over the Christmas holiday season. (Keith Lacey photo)
A group of passionate young musicians and one dedicated music teacher mean the day the music died hasn’t been allowed to take place at Osoyoos Secondary School.
When budget cuts resulted in the local high school deciding to cancel its band class, a small group of eight girls and retired Osoyoos Elementary School music teacher Anne Murseli rallied to save the program.
Murseli had been a music teacher at the local elementary school for many years before retiring last June – although she still works to this day as supply teacher. Murseli had taught most of the girls throughout elementary school and when she discovered that the Osoyoos Secondary School concert band program was being eliminated for the current school year, she stepped forward.
“The girls were so disappointed that the program was being cancelled and I remember how much music meant to them when I was teaching them at the elementary school,” she said. “If there was anything I could do to help the program survive, I was willing to try it.”
Principal Mike Safek agreed to allow Murseli to step in and run the concert band program and the eight girls have been gathering at 7 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday since the new school year began in September for practice.
Recently, the group of eight talented musicians performed for a small, but appreciative audience at the Sunshine (Cactus) Ridge retirement residence in Osoyoos for a Christmas concert.
Murseli said every one of the eight girls in the concert band is talented, dedicated and committed and volunteering her time to help teach them has been a labour of love.
“Some of these girls aren’t exceptional at sports and they get their chance to shine through music,” she said. “I’ve always believed that arts and culture should be a big part of the school experience and I was willing to step in and help if it meant the program could continue.”
The school donates the practice space and the instruments and Safek and senior administration must be commended for allowing the concert band to continue, even though the program is no longer part of the high school’s curriculum, said Murseli.
The girls are so dedicated that they continue with practicing on their own during the regular occasions Murseli can’t make practice because she has been called in as a supply teacher.
“The girls never miss practice, whether I’m there or not,” she said. “I’m so very proud of them for the effort they put in.”
Concert band members include Jasdeep Sandhu (clarinet), Rheanna Harfman (clarinet), Olivia Oslund (clarinet), Jennifer Rempel (clarinet), Emma Mandziuk (flute), Alex Brunner (flute), Kelsey Bayda (clarinet) and Justine Wright (tenor saxophone).
The members of the concert band made a commitment in September that they would try and raise funds throughout the school year so they could attend a professional musical in Vancouver in the spring and all of the girls have worked hard during various fundraisers to work towards that goal, said Murseli.
“We’re hoping to go see Mama Mia in Vancouver in March,” she said. “That would be a real thrill for all of the girls.”
Several local service clubs, including the Osoyoos Elks Club, Osoyoos and District Arts Council, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 157 and Beta Sigma Phi have all contributed funds that will allow the girls to make the trip to Vancouver.
Besides being a teacher, Murseli is an accomplished pianist and plays piano during concert performances with the band.
Murseli doesn’t know what the future holds for the Osoyoos Secondary School concert band program, but she’s hoping the school would consider reinstituting the program for the next school year.
“The value of fine arts at the high school level is very important as far as I’m concerned,” she said.
The concert band performed at Mariposa Gardens retirement village and the former Cactus Ridge retirement residence over the holiday season as well as at the Osoyoos Secondary School Variety Night.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
Thanks to eight dedicated and talented young musicians and retired Osoyoos Elementary School music teacher Anne Murseli, the Osoyoos Secondary School Concert Band has managed to survive. Murseli (on piano) and the concert band members performed at the former Cactus Ridge retirement residence over the Christmas holiday season. (Keith Lacey photo)
