Nights of Music (or Superbowl XVII)

We completed another incredible Nights of Music recently. Number 17, think. My past connection with the event was as a parent and spectator, but having an opportunity to emcee the event this year gave me renewed appreciation for the sheer effort of the endeavor. For those who don’t know, Nights of Music is an annual spring event in our district, organized by the Abbotsford Music Educators Association (AMEA), where students from all over the district demonstrate their musical talent. It usually lasts three nights, but with the increased level of participation (22 schools!) this year, it was extended to a fourth night.

Being backstage at the Abbotsford Arts Centre gave me the opportunity to see up close the effort required to make Nights of Music work as smoothly as it does every year. Students are collected in various available spaces as they nervously await their moment to shine. While she would be the first to acknowledge the importance of the team effort, it was evident that our own Anne Letendre, teacher at McMillan Elementary, was the maestro conducting this particular orchestra. Students were ushered to the side stage, and as soon as the preceding performing group had finished, and the applause faded, they were efficiently marched on stage to perform.

As emcee, my job was to stay out of their way. However, I could not help telling a few tales out of school when I took the mic each time: the drummer who lost his drumsticks on two occasions during the performance; the students who were dancing backstage to the beat of the performing group ahead of them; and the nervous students who were reassured by their teachers that they would do just fine.

Of course, they all performed wonderfully. This is far better than the kind of music that only a parent would enjoy. Our students are truly talented. This is no small accomplishment: the dedicated teachers who have spent countless hours of practice should be applauded. The Abby Arts Centre staff who do a fantastic job of staging, should be thanked. A special thank you should go to the AMEA, who have been organizing the Nights of Music for the last 17 years. A few of the faces have changed, but their incredible leadership has helped to sustain and improve something which has become a hallmark of our district.

A teacher, knowing how much I love football, said to me once, “The Night of Music is like our Superbowl.” Well I can tell you that Superbowl XVII was spectacular, and we scored a whole bunch of touchdowns.

~ Kevin
Kevin Godden
Superintendent of Schools/CEO
Abbotsford School District