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durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ JULY 20,2005 ♦ PAGE 11 A Clarington Community A weekly in-depth look at the communities that shape Clarington Great Canadian Town Band Festival Brass Rings mix music for something sublime Fast facts in the community Quintet among the headliners BY DEREK GIBERSON Staff Writer ORONO-- It was almost perfect 'weather for the Great Canadian Town Band Festival in Orono last weekend, where groups large and small played the bandstand in traditional style and later marched on the Orono Fairgrounds during the military tattoo. Only the strong winds managed to affect the schedule, with the balloon ' rides being bumped into the early hours of the morning -- think 5 a.m. - when the air is usually not as mobile. Otherwise, sitting on a bench in the shade facing the Victorian Bandstand •with the ethereal sound of the quintet Brass Rings resonating in the air was pure relaxation and pleasure -- almost perfect. As the group played an arrangement of the familiar "0 Sole Mio," the Brass Rings pantomimed an imagined scene where Paul Henderson, the trombonist, was enjoying wine at an Italian restaurant restaurant in a piazza somewhere on the Mediterranean. Mediterranean. Trumpeters Ross Turner and Paul Otway, a Whitby resident, served their guest, while Nicole Alexander, from Ajax, on horn and Brent Adams on tuba provided a steady accompaniment. The actor-musicians switched between the pantomime and playing - the audience audience loved it. Brass Rings, with members based around the Golden Horseshoe, brought a unique approach to performance that had their audience fascinated. The group, comprised of professional musicians musicians who are also seasoned orchestra players, used the stage as a theatrical medium, creating a blend of music, spoken spoken word, drama, and poetry along with some unusual stage props to make the music more entertaining and accessible for many who wouldn't consider themselves themselves connoiseurs. It was the result of Mr. Henderson's imagination, who started the group in 1998/ "I was daydreaming about what would be interesting for me if I was at a concert," concert," he said. "I thought it was a way to steer people toward the emotion of the piece (of niusic)." By incorporating the words of songs like John Lennon's "Imagine" and reading segments of classic classic poems in'between or' during songs, they serve "as jumping off points," and "can help them enjoy music" that may otherwise not keep their attention throughout a performance. A combination of humour and intro r spection, old and new music, and expert playing struck a chord with listeners. Brass Rings has created an out-of-the- ordinary blend all of their own. Population (based on 2001 Census total of 69,830 for entire Municipality) 1,730 (2.5%) Projected population -- 2016 (based on 2016 projected total of 101,800for Municipality) 1,580 (1.6%) ■ Schools Public 1 Elementary Arenas 1 (Orono Arena) ■ 1 ice pad Swimming Pools 1 outdoor (Orono Park Pool) Council Representation Local Ward 4 Gord Robinson Regional Wards 3 and 4 Charlie Trim Up and away Top: A. J. Groen/The Canadian Statesman Bottom: Submitted photo ORONO -- Top, pilot Dave Monson of Sky works Balloon Company and sponsor Pilot Insurance took Fergie and Shirley MacLeod for a hot air balloon balloon flight that began in Tyrone and ended 40 minutes later near Taunton Road. The MacLeods, of Bowmanville, won the flight, sponsored by Pilot Insurance, by buying a ticket at James Insurance. The money raised went to Town Band Festival Fund. At the cheque presentation are, from left, Frank Corcoran with the Town Band Festival, Karen Preuten from Pilot Insurance, Eleanor Damant, the host broker from James and Insurance, and Gail Staple- ton from the Town Band Festival. Œïje Caitabian âtiatesiman Next week in Clarington communities: Courtice . : / '• • v Potter-mania invades (1 '$'• BY DEREK GIBERSON Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Just over a dozen or so kids sat quietly, listening to the opening scene of a much-anticipated book being read in a cozy corner of the Clarington Public Library. Last Saturday afternoon, I dropped in to the library, where Carol Arsenault, a library employee in the children's services services department, was reading aloud from the first two chapters of Harry Potter and the. Half-Blood Prince. The kids, some of whom took up the challenge to show up dressed as students students .headed off to Hog warts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, hung on every word. I was the outsider in this group, the one who continues to delay diving into the internationally popular Harry Potter series - but only because I wouldn't be able to bear the long wait for the grand finale. I will get there, eventually. For those who haven't heard abôut all the hype surrounding this series, here's a primer: This book, which was released that same day, is the sixth in the Harry Potter series that author J.K. Rowling says will wrap up with seven, and WH Smith, a chain of bookstores . in Britain, where the author lives, reported that in the first hour of sales the book was selling at a rate of 13 copies per second across its chain of 391 stores. "We have to wait two weeks for it," said Carlin Jackes, 8, who is from Renfrew and placed an order at a. store there. She was visiting family in Clarington for the weekend and heard about the reading, so she and her mother mother put together a costume based on the cloak and scarf worn by students in the Harry Potter movies. A few of the kids were a little luckier, and had their own copies to follow along with during the reading. Jessica Carrington, 10, of Bowmanville, also had her Hogwarts cloak on, and when she picked up her copy on Saturday ■ morning, she wasted no time digging into the 607-page volume. By the time she arrived at the library at 2 p.m., she was on page 139. Some might even say that Jessica is an . avid fan of the series. While she couldn't remember the exact number, her mother confirmed that she had read the first five books "about 10 times." That's pretty avid, for a 10-year-old. Tasked her why the books appealed so.miich. "Harry Potter is mischievous, and he's adventurous and stuff," she said. I guess I'll see for myself, eventually. Just waiting for that last book. 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Carrier Collecting Every Three Contest details available at 845 Farewell St., Oshawa or 188 Mary St., Port Perry If you have any questions or delivery concerns please call at (905) 579-4407 or (905) 985-7383 ®l » CanaMan Otatointon All-- «-- PORTPERRYSTAR IhISWCCK Mike Pochwat/ The Canadian Statesman Jessica Carrington, 10, reads the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at the Clarington Public Library's release party last Saturday.