A St. Albert tubist and a Sherwood Park power-lifter will toot their horns this Sunday to raise money in support of humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
The Tubas of St. Albert and the Beaverhill Brass Quintet will hold a free concert in Sherwood Park this May 21 to raise money for relief efforts in Ukraine. Admission to the concert is by donation.
The event is being organized by Colin Bonneau of the Beaverhill quintet and Michael Eastep of the St. Albert group. Eastep is the former principal tuba of the Calgary Philharmonic and Bonneau is a lifelong tuba player and retired power-lifter.
“I was strong as a kid,” Bonneau said, but he didn’t really get into power-lifting until he was in his 50s.
Bonneau said he went on to set and break about 90 power-lifting records for his age, and managed to bench-press 535 pounds when he was 60. He has since retired from active competition.
“I’m sure I was for a long time the world’s strongest church musician,” he said.
Bonneau said there is no real connection between his power-lifting and tuba-playing, besides the fact he has been doing both for most of his life.
“The only way it helps is carrying them!” he said.
Musicians who help
Bonneau said Russia’s invasion and annexation of the Crimea in 2014 really bothered him, as did the start of the current war in Ukraine last year. About three months ago, he spoke with a number of families that had fled to Alberta from Ukraine because of the war, and played the Ukrainian national anthem for them on the piano.
“I got to really thinking, ‘Boy, I really wished there was something I could do,’” Bonneau said.
Bonneau said he raised the idea of a charity concert with the Beaverhill quintet, who all agreed to help.
Eastep, who knew Bonneau through the Mission Hill Brass Band, said he heard about Bonneau’s concert and brought in the St. Albert tubas, who had been looking for a place to play.
Eastep and Bonneau said Sunday’s event will see the two groups play a variety of classical and modern tunes on tubas, trumpets, and other brass instruments. Expect to hear some nautical numbers, the Beatles, and the Latin-esque “Tromb-bom-ba.”
Bonneau said guests will also get to hear from representatives of the various charities supported by the concert.
Kevin Royle of Firefighter Aid Ukraine told the Gazette this fundraiser will help his group buy protective, surgical, and diagnostic gear for emergency and medical crews in Ukraine.
Rotary Club of Sherwood Park member Ihor Kruk said the concert will also support several Rotary projects related to Ukraine, including a youth orchestra program, a training program to bring Ukrainian doctors to Alberta for experience, and a plan to buy equipment for a rehabilitation centre for amputees in Ukraine.
Bonneau said he hoped about 200 people would come to the concert to hear some great music and support an important cause.
The concert is at the Wye Community Hall (151-22559 Wye Road, Sherwood Park) on May 21 and starts at 2:30 p.m. Call Bonneau at 780-922-1175 for details.
