OKM Senior Band London, Wales, Normandy, France Tour, 2011
Our tour theme of "Purpose, Belonging, and Gratitude" was applied simultaneously; both as guiding concepts for personal perspectives towards living with wellness, and, as our sentiments towards those soldiers, who were youthful and living in Kelowna at the time they enlisted and battled in Dieppe and Vimy, for their cause, and our reward, of "Freedom".
We worked with Mr. L. Gibson, and his students from KSS, to learn the personal accounts of these soldiers, which helped internalize our students' understanding of the meaning of their ultimate sacrifice that they made. We attended their grave sites in Normandy, where we expressed our gratitude and sorrow, through notes of both prose and music. We walked at Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge, and Dieppe, and then performed a concert that connected us with both the French youth of today, and those shared historical events and sentiments that remain as deep attachments between our countries.
Through the rich communicative medium of our blended music with the people in Dieppe, with and for whom we performed (with gratitude), we encapsulated the deep sentiments that come from an affirmation that we still have these shared values of "Freedom".
We worked with Mr. L. Gibson, and his students from KSS, to learn the personal accounts of these soldiers, which helped internalize our students' understanding of the meaning of their ultimate sacrifice that they made. We attended their grave sites in Normandy, where we expressed our gratitude and sorrow, through notes of both prose and music. We walked at Juno Beach, Vimy Ridge, and Dieppe, and then performed a concert that connected us with both the French youth of today, and those shared historical events and sentiments that remain as deep attachments between our countries.
Through the rich communicative medium of our blended music with the people in Dieppe, with and for whom we performed (with gratitude), we encapsulated the deep sentiments that come from an affirmation that we still have these shared values of "Freedom".
Click on image to enlarge