Thanks to All Our Animals!
The ESA crew: Diane Park, Mark Haney, Mark Ferris, Marcus Takizawa, Megan Bradfield, Jeremy Berkman, Marina Hasselberg, Ingrid Chiang, AK Coope and Paolo Bortolussi photo by Wayne Worden
Almost a year in planning, it was great to have a full house last Saturday for the premiere of East Side Animals.
Based on 8 animals themes that were created last fall with over 75 students in grades 1&5, East Side Animals was created to bring people into Falaise Park through the arts, and to use music to celebrate this area and it's unique history.
Big thanks to our musicians, all the kids and parents who came out and our mask making leaders/mask performers Danielle Girard and Koralee Nickarz.
Danielle Girard as Boom Boom the Woodpecker
Koralee Nickarz as Lady A. the Crow
The biggest thanks goes to the 3 schools, Vancouver Christian, Nootka Elementary and Thunderbird School, but especially the teachers: Mrs. Chan, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Samra and Mrs. Holmes. Without the students and the cooperation of the teachers, this project wouldn't have been possible.
Beware Sir Chubby the Bear!
We also would like to thank our community partners, the Renfew Community Centre, the Park Board, A Plus Printing, Our Town Cafe, the Vancouver Academy of Music, the Hamber Foundation and the BC Arts Council.
Extra special thanks goes to Karmen Ingram and Fraser Robinson, who sponsored individual instruments for the East Side Animals project. Karmen, who plays Principal Bassoon with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, sponsored the bassoon chair. The bassoon portrayed Ms. Cranium the Crane and was played by Ingrid Chiang.
Fraser Robinson sponsored our flute chair, occupied on Saturday by Paolo Bortolussi. The flute brought life to Boom Boom the Woodpecker, the most scattered of the East Side Animals.
From start to finish the entire project surpassed expectations, and was an amazing experience for not only the students, but Mark, the guests and all the professional musicians.
