In October 2009, Mr. Harvey, the Principal of Tam O’Shanter, Del Dako, Tam’s itinerant music teacher and Ms. Semper-Igwe the music teacher,  came up with the idea to have a special “BandFest 2010” where students from seven neighbouring schools would come together for a day to make music, experience a live jazz concert by Del's  band, and have an opportunity to make a contribution toward providing clean water for the Khachonge Primary School in Kenya.

That’s how Bandfest was born.

On May 4th, over 250 young musicians from Tam O’Shanter Jr. P.S., Beverly Glen Jr. P.S., Highcastle P.S., Norman Cook Jr.P.S., Anson Park P.S., Scarborough Village P.S., and Donview MS came together in a music celebration to raise funds in a quest to provide clean water for the students of Khachonge Primary School in Kenya.

The students performed in a massed band in a concert that featured some of Toronto’s finest professional musicians in the premier performance of a specially commissioned arrangement of a traditional Kenyan folk song by Brigham Phillips.The event

also featured a visit from Madame Nabukwesi, Wife of High Commissioner to Kenya who explained how the schools’ donation was making a difference in the lives of students in Kenya. 

Thank you to all staff, students, and honoured guests for their unstinting efforts to making Bandfest 2010 a huge success. A cheque was presented to Jean Kennedy Campbell of the Scarborough-Agincourt Rotary Club, who partnered with Tam O’Shanter to raise the funds. A special acknowledgement goes out to photographer Eugene Beck who generously donated his time to take photos of the event.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY STUDIOEUGENEBECK

DEL    DAKO:EDUCATION

SCHOOL JAZZ PERFORMANCES

I have been involved with music education for a number of years and have been able to present jazz to young audiences with great success. Testimonials and references are available on request. I have found that the key to this success is to make the music simple and accessible without sacrificing its quality. Connecting with young people in an entertaining and humorous way is a forte of mine. I feel very strongly that we need to balance exposing our youth to this kind of music just as much as we are committed to educating them in  the other arts. The performances run 45 to 60 minutes in length. Utilizing a three or four piece group. My musicians and I not only entertain students with jazz that is accessible to this age group, but we also explain the nature of improvised music.

BANDFEST 2010

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