Music an important part of student's life

Page 16

John Jaques starts his day early. Hours before his Grade 10 classes start he is out on the street delivering newspapers in his hometown of Saskatoon. Then he spends a full day in school before heading off to practice his double bass. The rest of the day is filled with homework and doing chores for his grandparents, with whom he lives. But the 15-year-old doesn't mind.

"I love playing with the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO). I had played piano and saxophone with the school band and really enjoyed it so when the opportunity came up to play the double bass in the SYO, I jumped at it," he said.

Although he enjoys group instruction along with the other musicians, he also feels the need to take private lessons, made possible by his income from the paper route.

Jaques is aware of the fact that his family members are watching his progress and are inspired by it. "I have nine younger cousins and many of them are involved in music programs too," he said.

He is also pleased that many non-Aboriginal people are encouraged by his dedication and success.

"It's helping to break down some of those old stereotypes that Aboriginal people can't be successful." Although he hasn't traced his First Nations heritage completely, he is proud of the place Canada's Aboriginal people hold in the history of the country and is anxious to represent them in a positive way. The arts are well represented in his family. His grandfather is Russell Smith, renowned West Coast artist and carver, and a talent for music and artwork shows up among other family members as well, including his grandmother, who is a trained dancer. "There's a pride in expressing culture through the arts," he said.

Jaques said a career in music is definitely in his future. "After high school, further studies at the university level are in the plans. I enjoy performing with an orchestra and want to be part of the experience on a regular basis."

The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra began in 1958 as a program of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and became an independent organization in 1983. Musicians have to audition to be accepted into the various programs within the SYO, which include a preparatory string group and the double bass program, of which Jaques is a member. They rehearse as a group every Saturday morning from September through May and each member also practices for many hours at home. The orchestra performs at numerous festivals and competitions throughout the year and maintains a close association with the Saskatoon symphony.

"The double bass program that helped John start is unique in Canada," said SYO music director Wayne Toews. "It had been very difficult for young bassists to have access to the equipment because it is very expensive, and to obtain regular lessons." Through collaboration with local schools and the youth orchestra, these hurdles were overcome and the principal bassist of the symphony became the instructor.

The young musicians in the SYO travel to workshops in Banff and other locations, gaining expertise from a variety of places. "Bringing eager and talented young people like John together with experts has produced amazing and wonderful results," said Toews.

"Over the past 20 years we have developed most of the bassists who have performed in our own symphony, plus many other cities have gained graduates of our program in their orchestras as well."

The dedicated youth commit themselves to a huge chunk of time every week, and this is a big part of their success as well, added the director. The orchestra, which numbers between 45 and 60 members, has won national orchestra awards six successive times, he said.

A concert in Saskatoon on Nov. 9 by the touring National Arts Centre Orchestra from Ottawa featured Jaques as solo performer, led by world-renowned conductor Pinchas Zukerman. The spotlight will be on Jaques, Toews said, as the orchestra will be accompanying him.

"John has embraced the opportunity that has been offered to him. He is preared to work consistently and intelligently, and has a strong vision of what he can do with his music," said Toews. "He understands what has to be done, he has a great work ethic, and he is very independent. He gets the job done. He is focused and he can see that a great future is possible and that he can make it happen."

John's success is due in a large part to the support he has received from his family, but Toews knows that it's been a two-way street. "Leadership on John's part is obvious. Within his own family, he has also shown warm and loving support to other members, carrying it down to the younger ones. He has integrity and he is hard working, and he is a positive role model to his family, to the orchestra and to the community." the standard Roman orthography and syllabics. McDonald is looking forward to seeing Onion Lake's new immersion school-already under construction -in use, with all 10 classrooms full.

McDonald's hope is that in a few years, "we'll have kids who will be fluent in using the language, and will be able to pass that on to their kids. That's our goal."