Around 300 local students’ voices will ring out together at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Thursday, as a Brant Festival event called Voices of Nature begins.
Students at both Arrowview Elementary School and Bowser Elementary School have been learning songs and environmental lessons from folk singers Holly Arntzen and Kevin Wright since October. This is part of the schools’ musician residency program, where the musicians work with the children on environmental stewardship and ecology.
Sheila Spendlove, principal at Bowser Elementary School, said the children learn a lot from the experience with the musicians, touching on science, arts and culture and the concert coincides well with the Brant Festival.
“And we are surrounded by nature and so we celebrate that,” she added. “And it’s spring time and it’s a great way to celebrate that.”
The elementary school students will be divided into two groups to sing songs like Big Change Starts Small about how one person can make a difference and My Roots Go Down about plants, roots and soil. Arntzen and Wright will accompany the students along with their band. Spendlove’s favourite song will be sung en masse. It’s called I am the Future.
The show starts at 7 p.m. on April 18 and tickets are $12, $5 for children and $20 for a family, available at both participating schools and at both Mulberry Bush Bookstores.