Christmas just wouldn鈥檛 be the same in Greater Victoria without one of its most cherished holiday traditions 鈥� the annual Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band Christmas concert in support of the Salvation Army鈥檚 toy drive.
This year鈥檚 edition was not only as magical as ever with Sub-Lt. Vincent Roi at the helm as music director. It was also an uplifting affirmation of this community鈥檚 spirit and generosity.
Now in its 39th year, the series of sold-out concerts at the Royal Theatre last week pulled in more than $3,000 in cash donations, with upward of 4,500 toys collected.
They are now being distributed through the toy shop at the Stan Hagen Centre for Families to make Christmas brighter for children and teenagers in need throughout the community.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a lot of toys under a lot of trees, and a lot of smiles on a lot of faces out there, both parents and children,鈥� said Salvation Army spokesperson Patricia Mamic.
While the three nightly $10-a-ticket performances featuring the band and special guests are legendary, a pair of matin茅e concerts for schoolchildren created their own brand of magic.
Hundreds of pint-sized concert-goers clapped, cheered and often squealed with delight on Wednesday afternoon as the 35-piece band roared through festive favourites and hits from the Disney movie Frozen.
鈥淓very single time I鈥檝e done this show, I鈥檝e had to bring earplugs. The children are screaming so loudly it hurts you,鈥� laughed Petty Officer Second Class Katrina Bligh, the production supervisor.
After joining the young crowd for part of the spectacle, it was easy to see why they were so excited by the sights and sound of band members sporting colourful props and costumes.
The wardrobe included a Santa Claus outfit, an upside-down turkey headdress, wacky Christmas hats and a horse鈥檚 head on one musician who kissed the conductor after a rendition of Sleigh Ride.
It was when some of the musicians came on stage costumed as characters from Frozen 鈥� including one as Olaf the Snowman that attracted kids like flies to honey 鈥� that the crowd really went wild.
While鈥檚 Bligh鈥檚 main instrument is the oboe, she also revealed her talents as a vocalist while singing the Frozen hits Love Is an Open Door and Let It Go in character as Anna and Elsa, respectively.
鈥淚t sounds like a Justin Bieber concert sometimes,鈥� said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Brayden Wise, who alternated between conducting and playing guitar.
鈥淲hen we did the matin茅e yesterday, the kids lost their minds. It was truly amazing. My experience has been that these matin茅es are super high-energy.鈥�
For Petty Officer First Class Michael Broadley, this year鈥檚 Christmas concerts marked his retirement after 41 years with the Navy, 39 of those years onstage for the annual Salvation Army Christmas concerts.
鈥淚t鈥檚 bittersweet,鈥� said the affable trumpeter and vocalist. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great, but it鈥檚 sad having to leave all these people. Apparently over 500,000 toys have been collected over the years. The difference it makes is massive.鈥�
Broadley said that while 鈥渕usic is music,鈥� there鈥檚 a difference when you鈥檙e performing this type of show for enthusiastic youngsters: 鈥淲e try to put out more energy to match theirs.鈥�
One of the biggest differences he said he has noticed since he joined what he described as 鈥渓ike a part-time army鈥� back then is society鈥檚 attitude toward the armed forces.
鈥淭here鈥檚 huge support for the armed forces these days, and what we鈥檙e doing overseas and other tasks,鈥� he said. 鈥淧eople really appreciate that, and it鈥檚 nice to be appreciated.鈥�
One thing that has been particularly uplifting is hearing people say 鈥渢hank you for your service,鈥� he said.
鈥淭hat is huge when you鈥檙e serving, and when you鈥檙e away from your family a lot, especially the guys away on ships for seven or eight months at a time.鈥�
The Salvation Army certainly wants to convey that kind of gratitude for what the band and the Royal and McPherson Theatre Society has done to support their toy drive, said Mamic.
鈥淭he amount of time the Naden Band puts into rehearsals is just so amazing, and the support we get from everyone who comes with a gift is wonderful.鈥�
