Carnival of Soul

BRUCE PARKER
Brooks Bulletin

Duchess School rock band teacher Dan Roth was notified this week that his high school’s entry into the CBC Music Class Challenge has qualified for the top 10 in the top community music class. (90 entries).
This is the second consecutive year Duchess has entered the challenge but the first time the school rock band has made the top 10.
The band recorded the audio for a song they learned and filmed a music video to submit.
Roth said anyone wanting to view the submission can search the song Camilo on You Tube.
The grades 10-12 rock band got its start five years ago under Roth who has a musical background.
He said starting a rock band option class seemed like a natural fit for him and the principals were behind the idea.
“I’m grateful that they let me do it. It is definitely the best part of my day.”
Roth said entering the challenge just seemed like something to do and looked interesting.
“It was a great opportunity to learn some Canadian content. That’s kind of at the center of this program. They want to celebrate Canadian music.”
Band members were definitely surprised and pumped up when they heard the news on Monday, Dec. 9, he said.
The band expected to find out Dec. 17 whether they won their category.
Kyra Lynn Steidel is in her third year with the band. She plays guitar and sings.
Steidel said being part of the band has been a lot of fun and she has made new friends.
“I used to be really nervous (performing) and now I am not as nervous anymore,” she said.
She said the best part about being in the band is getting to do what she likes with people who have the same interests.
Steidel and her classmates work on their music for one hour five days a week.
Austin Johnson is in his fifth year with the band.
“It is really fun just being able to be in a group with people who don’t judge you and you can really do whatever you want,” he said.
Johnson has been playing guitar for nine years but said he never took it seriously until he started with the band program.
He credits the program for encouraging him to try harder and learn more.
“I have definitely come a long ways.”
Kyle Bergquist is in his fourth year with the rock band. He joined because of having friends who were previously in the band.
“I didn’t join earlier because I didn’t feel confident enough with my skills but I finally got to that point where I felt like I would be able to do it at least proficiently enough,” he said.
Bergquist said there is minimal judgement from other band members and room to grow further.
He plays guitar and is also a vocalist. While he likes to sing, he personally prefers to play the guitar.
He said coming to the class is the best part of his day. His first class of the day gives him a rush being in an energetic environment.
He said entering the CBC challenge was a good way to expose the band’s talent to the rest of Canada.
Owen Bennett has been with the band for four years as a pianist.
He said the best part about the band is playing music with friends while getting better and improving musical skills.
Bennett said entering the CBC challenge was a lot of fun as it was the previous year. He said band members were not too worried about where they would place the first year because it was a great experience. The band was more confident with this year’s entry and members were excited upon learning they had made the top 10.
Jaxon Riste has been on keyboard with the band for three years.
Riste came to Duchess from a smaller school and wanted to be part of it as soon as he found out about the program.
He has made new friends and the band has helped him become more outgoing.
He has been playing keyboard for six years and most recently got a drum set.
Performing with the band has given him a sense of fulfillment.
Owen Buck plays bass. He said being a band member has been a fun experience because he gets to sit down with friends and play music he likes.
“You also get to learn about other music too.”
He joined the band four years ago because it looked like it would be something fun to do.
“I wanted to push myself to try a new experience.”
Like his classmates, he was very surprised the band made the top 10.
Deagan Swanson has been in the band for five years.
He plays a wide variety of musical instruments including piano and drums.
Swanson said the rock band class is an escape from the rest of the day. He said it is fun, wakes you up and you get to learn something that isn’t just part of a regular school curriculum.
He said he is part of a band that has lots of good musicians.
The band will be performing at the Jan. 10 Brooks Bandits game.

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