THE BATTLEFORDS — A remarkable seven and a half decades will be recognized in 2024 by the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band.
Started in 1949, the band carries a rich history of performances, both locally and internationally. One of their highlights was performing for Queen Elizabeth in Ottawa during Canada Day celebrations in 1997. In 2003, the band travelled to Germany to participate in a marching competition with bands from around the world.
Did you know, in the 1950s, NBCK band even performed on skates at the Civic Centre?
Chinley Hinacay, artistic director/general manager for the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band tells the Battlefords News Optimist and SASKTODAY.ca: “I believe that the key to the Kinsmen Band’s longstanding history is the supportive and arts-loving community that the Battlefords fosters. It doesn’t matter if you have the best musicians or the most funding. If your community does not appreciate the value of your work, or if an organization does not live up to the expectations or needs of their community, then no institution, no matter how grand, will be around for long.”
Hinacay, as director, says, “I have only had the opportunity to live in this city for the past three years and yet I have already experienced the tremendous amount of care and passion that, not just the Kinsmen Band members, but the entirety of the Battlefords has for the arts and it is truly inspiring.”
The NBCK Band held their annual spring concert May 4, to wrap up their season. The performance featured all of their ensembles of concert band, jazz band, youth ensemble and choir. The theme was video game music and they featured music from The Legend of Zelda, Mario 64, Portal and Cuphead, to name a few.
Similar to film scores, video game music has become an amazing medium for the capturing and expression of emotions, perhaps even more so, cites Hinacay, thanks to its inherent interactivity. “There is also a sense of wonder and childhood innocence that comes with the genre which is something I hoped to convey during the concert.”
The organization’s membership includes 16 members of the concert band, seven members of the jazz band, five members of the youth ensemble and the choir has 18 members.
Hinacay started his position in June of 2021. He oversees the entirety of the organization including artistic decisions that involve season planning, program themes and rehearsals. As well, Hinacay is responsible for marketing, social media, website maintenance, hall rentals, procuring of contractors for repair work, grant writing, etc.
Apart from Hinacay’s duties with the Kinsmen Band as the band’s artistic director and general manager, he is also a professional saxophonist. The North Battleford Comprehensive High School has also appointed Hinacay as their band director for the rest of the academic year.
It takes a passionate and dedicated team to help look after logistics for this band. Board members include Amy Francais, president; David Dekker, treasurer; and Karen Harrington, Bev Labbe, Kyle Materi, Kitty Morin, Susan Smith and Regan Woytowich.
The team is backed up by staff members Kaelee Forgrave, secretary; Blair Archibald, custodian; Stephen Carter, choral director and Jo Carter, choral pianist. Hinacay affirms gratitude for all members of the Kinsmen Band team for lending their talents and taking on additional tasks and responsibilities as needed to ensure everything runs as smoothly as it does.
“I believe a community band should strive to participate in the community events. This season alone we have participated in several community events such as the Remembrance Day ceremony, the Sweeping the Dust out of Our Souls concert at Third Avenue United, and a mass band (Bands Together) concert at the Dekker Centre which not only featured our ensemble, but the bands of two of our local high schools, John Paul II Collegiate and the North Battleford Comprehensive High School,” notes the band’s director.
Practice makes perfect so rehearsals are held once a week while, leading up to a performance, there are additional dress rehearsals scheduled.
While a number of highlights were recounted from the year, including the May concert and participation in the Bands Together concert at the Dekker Centre, the first ever Big Band Dine and Dance Fundraiser was also a big hit. It featured the jazz band providing an evening’s worth of entertainment as audience members enjoyed a full course catered meal, while enjoying the music both as a listener and a dancer.
Hinacay adds, “As with most arts organizations, we are still on our road to recovery post-COVID. Specifically, our membership rates are still not what they were prior to 2020, although our audience rates are higher than they’ve ever been. That being said, our membership has come a long way since I started with the band in 2021, with membership in all ensembles having been increased and I’m hopeful that this positive trend will only continue in the upcoming years.”
