Arts & Culture

Connecting through community concerts

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 2:34 PDT, Fri August 13, 2021

Last Updated: 11:20 PDT, Mon August 30, 2021

Weekly music group brings people together in neighbourhood park

Stroll by Kozier Park on a Monday evening and you’ll be treated to an hour-long outdoor concert.

Music, explains conductor Brenda Khoo, is a way to bring people together. After a long period of disconnection, this is particularly welcome.

“Music is a universal language,” says Khoo. “Often, when words cannot be found to build connection, music and other fine arts can bridge that gap. I believe the opportunity to hear music helps create a shared experience, even when socially distant, that helps foster community.”

About 30 participants show up each week, ranging in age from nine to 70something with a wide variety of musical backgrounds. Some attend Richmond elementary or secondary schools and some are members of one of Khoo’s three bands: Brass Wind and Wire, the Delta Music Makers and Marcato.

In previous years Khoo has run a single summer concert in the Steveston-area park, bringing together members of various groups during a season when many community bands take a break. But this year’s weekly concerts began as a solo effort, when Khoo played O Canada on her doorstep each Monday as a tribute to healthcare workers. 

One week, a member of the youth band she conducts was walking by and said she’d like to join. So the following Monday, they met nearby at Kozier Park.

“That first night it was my two daughters, myself and Vera, one of the trumpet players,” says Khoo. “The following week Erica, a clarinetist, joined us. Gradually word spread, and youth and adult musicians started asking to join.”

Khoo sends out a list of songs each week—providing a variety of styles and eras—so musicians can prepare in advance if they prefer.

“The songs are picked at the beginning of the season to be ones that anyone with even limited experience could participate in,” she says. “For the first few Mondays I did not have a set playlist order, as I was still getting a sense of the ensemble’s strengths.”

Fortunately, those who live in the neighbourhood don’t seem to mind the music. Khoo says while she was concerned that residents might complain there were too many people, or that musicians were gathered too closely together, feedback has been positive.

“So far everyone seems happy with the activity, and people have started letting others know. We are having people from other neighbourhoods come to watch and listen,” she says.

Khoo adds that musicians of any age are welcome to join the Monday group, and interested musicians can contact her at bkhoo@shaw.ca. 

See more canada news

See All

See more international news

  See All
© 2024 Richmond Sentinel News Inc. All rights reserved. Designed by Intelli Management Group Inc.