Music Scores

Music Scores 2025

The True North Brass quintet brought a little bit of magic to schools in the Parry Sound area the week of May 12-16. Adapting symphonic scores for five brass instruments, they helped students see the range of notes, pitch and tone these instruments can make, and the emotion that can be evoked through harmony and rhythm.

 

The quintet, made up of internationally acclaimed musicians, delighted their audience not only at The Charles W. Stockey Centre, but in the more intimate setting of their own schools. In each of the ten schools, children had an up-close look at the instruments, were taught about how the sounds are produced and also considered how brass instruments have evolved over the years from shells and horns used as signals, to the intricate melodies, tones and musical dynamics that can be produced through the skill and precision of a musician. Who knew that a length of plastic tubing and a funnel from a hardware store, fixed with a mouthpiece, could produce such an incredible sound?

 

From the familiar themes of Star Wars, the song “Remember Me” from Coco, and “Frere Jaques” to lesser known pieces, The True North Brass delighted their audiences and took us on a musical journey reminding us that music has the power to make our imaginations soar.

 

WHAT IS MUSIC SCORES?

Music Scores is the Festival of the Sound’s unique initiative to bring professional musicians to Parry Sound twice each year for visits to all of the elementary schools in the region. Every spring and fall, Festival musicians visit students in grade 4 to 6 at our local schools to get to know the students in an informal atmosphere, share about their instrument(s) and passion for music, and participate in an interactive, mutual learning experience. At the end of the week, approximately 700 students then travel to the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts to listen to the musicians, now their friends, in a formal concert setting.

The Festival of the Sound is dedicated to providing innovative, creative, thematic programming. This includes our “off-season” music educational projects.

The love of music often begins in childhood and the Festival is committed to bringing world-class, professional classical musicians into our local schools. During the school year, we organize an exciting and innovative music education outreach program called Music Scores. Through this program, the students are provided opportunities to meet professional musicians, learn together with them, and attend professional concerts at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts.