Nurturing REC’s musical talent

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This article was published 25/11/2016 (3433 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

River East Collegiate principal Diana Posthumus was recognized for her commitment to REC’s music program.

In October, Posthumus was awarded the Manitoba Band Association’s 2016 Outstanding Administrator Award. According to the MBA’s website, “the award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba.”

“I was surprised, for sure,” Posthumus said regarding the honour. “It’s not one of those things I ever go looking for. My job, you just have to make sure the kids and the school have what they need.”

The award highlights the exceptional work being done in the music program at River East.

“The program has been great at creating a wide range of arts opportunities for our students,” Posthumus said, before praising the work of instrumental music director Jeff Kula, Grade 9 band instructor Dennis Dekleva, and choral director Nicole Enns.

“They try to nurture the talent and skill sets students have,” she said. “They find those kids and say, ‘What can we do to help you to build on your skill?’ I’m just in the background going what do you need to make that work. That’s my role, one of support.”

“Diana is a very worthy recipient of this award,” said Kula, instrumental music director at REC. “Even though she is extremely modest about accolades, this recognition is a great sense of pride in our school community.”
   
Kula, who has been at REC for 17 years, noted that the school has always supported  music and the arts. However, he said that after Posthumus was appointed principal three years ago, that the level of support for his program “intensified to new levels.”

Over the past couple years, REC music students have taken part in the festivals as diverse as the Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival and the Optimist International Concert Band Festival, and have collaborated across genres to create original compositions and performances.

“During the 2015-16 school year,” Kula wrote in an email. “REC students the opportunity to commission, premiere and record six new works by student composers/artists for REC ensembles, many utilizing non-traditional/conventional mediums.”

Posthumus noted that REC has recently purchased an Aboriginal “big drum,” which she hopes will provide opportunities to work traditional drumming into the music program and school events. Kula added he looks forward to the drum providing students many opportunities to collaborate with RETSD’s Aboriginal Academic Achievement initiative.

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