BU Symphonic Band unites Westman musicians for CancerCare Fundraiser

Reposted with permission from Discover Westman

By Betty Sawatzky

The Brandon University Symphonic Band invites the public to join them in a powerful evening of instrument and choir performances tomorrow evening at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (WMCA) for their Fall concert.  The annual concert will draw hundreds of students together from Brandon U’s School of Music and from across the Westman Region.

A special collaboration between the Brandon University Symphonic Band, CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, and the Manitoba Band Association, will feature the western Manitoba debut of a very special musical initiative – Wave of Light.

Uniting musicians in the fight against cancer

Wave of Light aims to unite musicians while harnessing the healing power of music to raise funds for CancerCare Manitoba.

The original piece of music created by accomplished Canadian-British composer Peter Meechan was specifically designed for musicians and bands of all ages and skill levels. Bands, schools and community ensembles from across Manitoba have been invited to participate in Wave of Light.

“Music has the incredible power to bring people together, creating a shared space of hope, strength and healing – especially for those touched by cancer. As a band, we’re honoured to take part in this fundraiser, using our music to create a wave of light in the fight against cancer,” shares Dr. Wendy Zander, instrumental music education specialist and conductor of the Symphonic Band at the Brandon University School of Music. 

Zander has been teaching in Brandon for 21 years and says she has the best job in the world!

“I won’t lie to you! I get to have a great time working with young people who are full of energy and excitement, and we call it ‘playing instruments for a reason‘. There’s a great sport at play and lots to be learned through music about us and about the world we live in. So, it’s an exciting time to be in this discipline,” she shares.

Westman students take the stage in annual fall concert

Each year, the Brandon University Symphonic Band hosts a fall concert featuring student musicians from across the Westman region. The event typically includes three main components: performances by the BU Symphonic Band, guest ensembles, and a collaborative finale.

Held at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium—a venue renowned for its acoustics and atmosphere—the concert welcomes invited groups from various communities in the Westman Region.

This year, the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS) and Vincent Massey High School in Brandon will bring their approximately 50-member ensembles to perform.  BU’s Symphonic Band features approximately 50 students as well, so the sound will be rich and full and exciting for these university students, and for these participating high school students!

A highlight of the evening is the joint performance that concludes the concert. Students from multiple communities including Melita, Souris, Hartney, Rivers, and Boissevain will join the BU Symphonic Band on stage for two pieces, creating a powerful and inclusive musical experience that showcases the talent and unity of the region’s young musicians.

“These students, they come and play with us on a couple of pieces,” explains Zander. “They get to play on that beautiful stage. They get to play beside students who are perhaps their mentors, who are more advanced than they are. And they get a chance to feel what it’s like to play in an ensemble that’s closer to a professional setting on music that’s really spectacular!”

“And this year we’re playing two compositions by Canadian composers, one by Bob Buckley. Bob Buckley is a Vancouver native, and he has a piece called Rhythmism. And the second one, which is an extra special collaboration by Peter Meechan, which is the collaboration with the Manitoba Band Association … Wave of Light.”

‘Wave of Light’ brings honour, healing, and hope

Wave of Light is to help bring awareness and funding to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.  Zander says there’s more to this beautiful piece of music that will be shared amongst the students, as well as the audience who may have their own story of how their family has been touched by cancer.

“This is an exciting project. It’s a project of hope. It’s a project of concern and care, and it’s a project all about community, about recognizing what we’re all up against as survivors, as supporters, as frontline care,” she explains. “We have members of Western Manitoba Cancer Center joining us at the concert. We have cancer survivors, folks who are battling the disease right now. It’s really a community of care.”

Music for every voice and every skill level

When composer Peter Meechan created Wave of Light, his vision was to make the piece inclusive to all levels of instrumentation skill. The score was designed to involve everyone—regardless of musical background or ability. That spirit of accessibility and emotional connection is at the heart of Wave of Light.

Dr. Zander says the piece is really unique in that there are three different levels of parts.

“So as some of these students are coming to us from different schools, some of them are going to be playing different versions of the piece, but all the versions fit together regardless of how difficult or how easy the part is,” she explains. “They all fit together to create this beautiful composition. And the purpose of that is to suit small programs, large programs, advanced bands, beginner bands, and it really is the highlight of the piece!”

The music allows for vocal opportunities as well, and this will be unique for tomorrow’s concert. For the first time in performance, audience members will be invited to sing along.

Fifth-year music education student at Brandon U, Kendalyn Penner from Boissevain, a will lead the audience in learning the vocal parts of Wave of Light.  Penner is in her final year at BU studying choral, instrumental and elementary music education.  Penner’s major instrument is the voice, and her main focus of study is choral music education. 

In preparation for broader performances across the province during Music Month in May 2026, BU students and faculty are developing pedagogical materials and study guides for the Wave of Light—resources that will be used both in classrooms and during Thursday night’s concert at the WMCA, says Zander.

Wave of Light premieres in Westman – October 30th at the WMCA 7:00 pm.

The first performance in western Manitoba takes place next Thursday, October 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium performed by the Brandon University Symphonic Band and invited guests, directed by Dr. Wendy Zander.

For more information on the Wave of Light, visit the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation website HERE!

To donate to this fundraiser through the Brandon University concert initiative click HERE!

Hear more from Dr. Wendy Zander on Discover Westman.

Read more about Wave of Light on Discover Westman.

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