Sarah Wilson wants people to make music.
A musician for roughly 30 years, Wilson has performed and directed in concert bands, and has taught and performed at venues around the world. For the Metchosin resident, music is more than playing notes.
“Music changed my life completely,” she said. “There’s a way of knowing people and a connection with people that you can feel when you play music with them that is quite unique. If you play with someone you’ve never had a conversation with, you develop a bond.”
Now Wilson is using her talents and enthusiasm for music to get residents involved in a community concert band in Metchosin.
As part of the band, Wilson is encouraging anyone – those who know how to play instruments, those that don’t or those who haven’t played in years – to come out and take part. Wilson will teach participants to play wind instruments such as the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet or trombone, among others.
She’ll also teach participants how to put the instruments together and how to read music.
“It’s a great opportunity for community members from all backgrounds, all ages, all ability levels, just for people to get together and do something constructive and creative together – and that’s making music,” said Wilson, adding roughly 30 people have expressed an interest in joining so far.
“I want people to know that there’s absolutely no skill level required to join. I think there’s a pre and misconception that one must have an ability in order to join and that puts people off … All you need is the desire to join.”
When Wilson moved to Metchosin three years ago to raise her young family, she realized how much she missed being in a concert band. While she used to play with the West Shore Community Concert Band that practices in Langford, she wanted something closer to home that would bring together the artistic and creative people in Metchosin.
After a few years of settling into the community and with her children getting older and expressing an interest in playing in a concert band, Wilson thought this was the best time to get one started.
The Metchosin Community Concert Band gets underway on Thursdays beginning the second or third week in September from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Westmont Montessori school (4075 Metchosin Rd.) For more information visit Metchosin Community Concert Band on Facebook.