The 4 Wing Band will present its annual Christmas concert in Bonnyville this year.
The concert has been an important holiday tradition in Cold Lake for many years. The December 7 show at Strathcona performing Arts Centre will be the first time in memory the band has presented its program in Bonnyville.
Warrant Office Adam Gaw, 4 Wing’s bandmaster, says the show will be a family-friendly program with Christmas standards, movie music, and some fun twists on the familiar repertoire.
“It’s designed to be about an hour or an hour-and-a-half long concert—not too long, but not too short,” Gaw said.
The program will feature the full 30-piece band and two of its smaller ensembles: a brass quintet and a woodwind quintet. The 4 Wing Pipes and Drums will also perform.
Gaw is excited to present the band in Bonnyville’s new performing space. “Having that venue to play in is very nice,” he said. “We haven’t used it yet, so we’ll see what it sounds like. I’m excited to do it.”
He said performing in Bonnyville is “a way for the military to reach out to the community, to celebrate the holidays, and to say ‘thank you’ back to the community for all the support that they provide the base and the Canadian Armed Forces.”
Showtime is 2:00 on Sunday, December 7. Admission is free; food or cash donations will be accepted at the door for the Bonnyville food bank.
The band will present its annual Cold Lake concert December 14.
