My OSO Story – Myrna Coates

During these days, the OSO will continue to share these heartwarming and optimistic stories from our members and friends, in the hope that they provide a bright spot and a smile for your week.

MY OSO STORY — MYRNA COATES

Okanagan Symphony Orchestra School Concerts: What a privilege it is for our students to attend such amazing performances!

The first time I took students to the Symphony, I asked one boy what he thought of it, and he said, “This is my first time, but it won’t be my last.” YES! I could not have asked for a better response.

Then a Grade 6 student ran up to me and said, “We have to play that song! We have to play that song!” We had just attended the ‘Monster’ show, and I expected he was speaking of “Monster Mash”, a fun piece, but next to impossible for young players… but no. “We have to play that song – In the Hall!” YES! again.

Council grants

Vernon to distribute over $50k in Council Discretionary Grants, $20K to the food bank

44m ago

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

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Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

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I ordered the music for young bands, it became one of our favourites, and still is. That young student, now a young adult, has just returned to Princeton and has rejoined Princeton Community Band. I had the privilege of teaching band for 14 years, in Princeton, and what did the community band play at our last concert, along with the older students? “In the Hall of the Mountain King”. The beginning students loved the imagery of Pier Gynt sneaking through the trolls’ caves.

Over the years, Rosemary Thomson and OSO introduced my band students to such a variety of music. I was never sure what impact such exposure might have on my students. I had many ‘hockey players’ in band, and I was always pleased to hear their being impressed with student musicians of their own age who performed with the OSO.

Making the bus trip from Princeton to Penticton to attend the OSO school concerts was an all-day excursion, usually complemented with a visit to Tickleberry’s ice cream parlour in Okanagan Falls on our return. Although this was a real treat that became a ‘tradition’, the students never mentioned that as being their most memorable experience of the day. It was always the music, or the musicians, or the stories Rosemary told, or the instruments, many of which they had never seen. On several visits, my very special friend, Lauris Davis, gave them a ‘close-up’ demonstration with her oboe.

One of my students, who did not continue in band when she moved to secondary school, when encountering me in the hallways, would often comment on the memorable trips we made to concerts. My hope is that she will seek out such performances in her adult life.