by Adam Gault
The Arts, Culture, and Tourism (ACT) Committee’s weekly summer concert series, Tune up the Parks, continued last Wednesday evening, inside the Heritage Gardens Park, with a captivating performance from the Essex District High School concert and jazz bands.
Led by EDHS Music Department Head, Dee Shaw, the band, consisting of students from grades nine through 12, played an assortment of classic and contemporary band pieces, as they delighted concert-goers in their final performance of the 2018 school year.
“It’s nice to get out of the school, get out into the public, and let them see what we’re doing,” Shaw explained of the band’s participation in the concert series.
“Live music is an art that needs to be supported. Kids get involved in these ensembles, they need a place to play, so it’s a great venue for us to get out into the town and people can see what we do,” Shaw said, regarding the importance of initiatives like Tune up the Parks. “Just supporting the arts in general, it’s awesome that the town supports the arts and lets us have these events and venues out in the public.”
Shaw will lead the Essex Community Concert Band, will take to the stage as the next performance in the Tune up the Parks series in Essex Centre at 7 pm this Wednesday, June 20.
Additional concert series information, including full performance schedule can be found at essex.ca
Tune up the Parks is a weekly summer concert series that highlights local musical talent from a variety of genres in our town’s diverse selection of parks and greenspaces, from now until the Labour Day weekend.
Monday concerts in the series take place at Colchester Harbour and Park, and Wednesday concerts take place in Essex Centre, inside the Heritage Gardens Park, which is home to the Essex Memorial Spitfire. Several additional select concerts will also be featured in McGregor and Harrow.
Those attending the weekly concert series are encouraged to bring outdoor folding chairs and blankets to ensure a comfortable experience, while enjoying some of the best musical talent from around Essex County.
While free to attend, concert goers are welcome to make donations to support the continued efforts of the performers.