The Soo Theatre has offered a wide variety of programming since its reopening in 2005. During that same year, a brass band was also formed in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. In 2005 the SteelTown Silver Band was created. Twelve years after its inception, this local brass band will appear on the historic stage of the Soo Theatre for the first time in a double billing with the Symphony Jazz All Stars on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 7:30p.m.
The SteelTown Silver Band is 25 member British-style brass band formed in 2005 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The group was led by Garfield Ryckman until 2010 when John Wilkinson became the bandmaster.
The band has its own series of Christmas and spring concerts each season, but always performs for the Sault Symphony’s Beer and Beethoven fundraiser in June as well. In addition, the band has appeared at Lake Superior State University, the Music in the Park Concert Series in Sault, Michigan and for many other special events.
While the brass band has a long history in European countries, it is not as well known in North America. The music played by the SteelTown Band includes many traditional brass band selections, but also ranges father afield to cover jazz, popular and traditional music that has been arranged for this type of ensemble.
The Symphony Jazz All-Stars was formed in the fall of 2016 by John Wilkinson to create a jazz ensemble to perform at various Sault Symphony-related concerts. The success of the group has encouraged its continuation as a concert performing group.
While it may seem a bit surprising, the overwhelming majority of the Jazz ensemble are also members of the Symphony. Some of the players are former Lake Superior State College students who played with the LSSU Jazz Ensemble many years ago under the direction of the same director, John Wilkinson.
The Jazz All-Stars play a wide range of music styles including traditional big band tunes like “Sing, Sing, Sing” or “Harlem Nocturne,” to more contemporary fusion or funk tunes such as “Birdland” and “Watermelon Man.”
So come on downtown on Saturday, October 21st at 7:30pm to the historic Soo Theatre and take in this unique double bill.
Tickets are $15 for Adults, $10 for Students with a valid Student I.D., and $5 for Stars students 18 and under who are currently enrolled in classes. Group discounts can be made available by calling the Soo Theatre offices at 906-632-1930 during the business hours of Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm. Tickets may be purchased in person at 534 Ashmun Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783 or online at www.saulttheatre.org.
There’s something for everyone at the Soo Theatre Project. Find out what that is for you by attending a concert, enrolling in a class or just stopping by for a tour of the historic building. Check us out on the web at www.sootheatre.org. And be sure to like us on Facebook for the most up to date information on programming and classes.
