Foothills Brass returns for Remembrance weekend

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

When Foothills Brass played in Strathmore during the first season of Arts on 817, they wowed the audience with their incredible talent and versatility. Now they’re coming back in Season 3, and this time they’re bringing some friends along.
Foothills Brass & Friends will present a Remembrance weekend program at Arts on 817’s second concert of the season on Nov. 9. Three singers from Calgary, Kate Stevens, Izzy Zenglitsky and Tyra Sanderson, will portray the Andrews Sisters. Add jazz pianist Steve Fletcher to the mix and the hits of the ’40s will come to life, with tunes like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.
“The Foothills Brass has been performing this program for a couple of years now and it has been very popular,” explained Carolyn Steeves, artistic director for Arts on 817. “The Music of the ’40’s is closely aligned with the Second World War years. Seniors will remember sitting around the radio and listening to war broadcasts. Big band music, jazz and boogie woogie were very popular. Entertaining the troops was also very popular.”
A fixture in southern Alberta, Foothills Brass has been entertaining audiences since 1981 with up to 200 performances each year in concert halls, universities, classrooms and cathedrals.
From their first international tour in 1986, which included a Christmas Eve performance in Bethlehem Town Square, a Christmas Day performance at the Jerusalem Theatre and a two-week tour of Israel, to performing at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988 and releasing six albums, Foothills Brass is recognized worldwide for its educational activities and artistic innovation.
Arts on 817 wanted to present this program for Remembrance Day. With this year marking the 75th anniversary of Juno Beach and D-Day, and last year marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, they felt it was important to recognize these significant milestones for our country.
“The audience can expect to be transported to another time, the 1940s, through a wonderful evening of fun and music making,” said Steeves. “Memories will be made and relived. No matter your age, this evening will be very entertaining.”
The Foothills Brass & Friends concert, which will be held at Strathmore United Church, starts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9. For tickets call 403-901-2797 or go to smoreuc.com.