It is heartfelt. It is moving and the tears flow every year. Once again the Cosmopolitan Music Society hosts Lest We Forget: A Musical Tribute, a 21-year salute to the men and women that served in the military forces.
Garry Silverman conducts this Sunday at the acoustically perfect Winspear Centre with special service guests Vimy Ridge Academy Pipe Band, the Canadian Cenotaph Party and the Canadian Legion Colour Party.
“Veterans like to see young people involved in Remembrance Day ceremonies. As World War II veterans get fewer and fewer, they like to see the tradition carried on knowing what they did hasn’t been forgotten,” says St. Albert trumpet player Jean Runyon, a 20-year Cosmo player.
To lighten the occasion’s solemnity, the Jerrold Dubyk Quartet, including Chris Andrews (piano), Josh McHan (bass) and Bill George (drums) will provide an interlude of Second World War jazz and swing.
“They are fantastic technically, but what takes them to another level is their artistry and how they listen to each other. There’s a conversation going on between them and it’s a joy to play together because everything fits so much better,” explains St. Albert alto-sax player Barth Bradley. Both he and Runyon are part of Cosmo’s stage band performing Jumpin’ At the Woodside and Little Liza Jane with the Jerrold Dubyk Quartet.
In addition to Runyon and Bradley, three other St. Albert musicians are performing: Rhea Shank (saxophone), Richard Buckley (clarinet) and Elli Zapf (clarinet/chorus).
This year the Canadian Navy celebrates its centennial year and the spotlight is on seafaring tunes. Lt. (N) Robert Byrne, stationed at Esquimalt Naval Base on the West Coast, is a special guest conductor.
Cosmopolitan musicians will play a number of tunes such as Heart of Oak Fantasy, the navy march, Andre Jutra’s They Come Sailing and Ralph Vaughn Williams Sea Songs.
Runyon is one of the staunchest supporters of this event. Her father fought at Vimy Ridge. Her mother was in the Air Force. She has a nephew in Afghanistan with another due to ship out soon.
“We have to understand, freedom doesn’t always come cheap. Although we have not had a war on our soil, we have to recognize our lifestyle is due to people who have made tremendous personal sacrifices and you can’t sweep that under the carpet.”
