Telling the tale of historic fire

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This article was published 26/11/2018 (2786 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Out of despair sometimes comes hope.

That’s one of the overriding sentiments behind a new production that will be held in the theatre at Glenlawn Collegiate on Thurs., Dec. 6.

The production — which is called The Unearthed Trumpet — is a new work that will be performed by the school’s band and choir to mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating fire — which turned out to be arson — that claimed a large portion of the St. Mary’s Road-based school in October 1993. The production is directed by Glenlawn teacher Rob Monson, and is scored by composer Pete Meechan. It will feature the Glenlawn Collegiate Concert Choir, and the Glenlawn Collegiate Wind Ensemble.

“The school was gutted in the fire, basically,” said Glenlawn teacher and Sage Creek resident Greg Crowe, who is also the show’s promoter, noting he first met Meechan at a conference for music educators several years ago. “This is a way to offer gratitude for our current theatre, which was borne out of the fire.”

“We’ve invited lots of alumni to the production to come and sing and play, and we’ve also invited back former teachers and administration members. It’s a chance for folks to get together and reunite, and share old stories. Interestingly, lots of people don’t know about the fire, but it’s a big part of Glenlawn’s history.”

Meechan, who lives in the South Osborne area, said it was an interesting assignment to be commissioned to do.

“Essentially, with the process of composing, you’re always looking for a way into the piece,” Meechan said, noting the production’s title originates from an archive photo of a firefighter holding a charred trumpet that was recovered from the rubble.

“It’s an evocative photo, and I’ve heard stories about how people were determined to keep the school’s music program going after the fire, and they used different venues, such as churches, for rehearsals. We know about the healing power of music, and this composition is about unearthing something of symbolic significance, and about finding hope from despair.”

Looking back to the time of the fire, Crowe said it’s interesting to hear stories that highlight how things were a bit different before the digital age.

“A colleague told me that it took some time to know that every kid that was in the school at the time was safe, so there must have been a lot of teachers, parents, and community members not sleeping that night. Those were different times,” Crowe said.

“I think is a unique experience for the students, and nobody in history has ever performed this. Having Pete involved is such a treat. And if the students have any questions about the composition, they can go right to the source, which is fantastic.”

All community members are welcome at the event. For tickets, or more information, call 204-233-3986. Visit meechanmusic.com to learn more about Meechan.