An informative and uplifting performance called Up Your Watershed is coming to the Hazeltons next week and everyone is invited to attend the concert at the Hazelton Secondary school on Thursday, May 19.
This unique celebration of watershed stewardship, salmon conservation and the pristine rivers of the province is a creation of singers/songwriters/producers Holly Arntzen and Kevin Write of the Artist Response Team (ART). The Up Your Watershed project is based on the Voices of Nature Community Outreach Model pioneered by ART and it weaves together music, education and ecology in help inspire positive action.
“The engine is young people, singing and learning,” Arntzen shared. “Inspiration comes from fabulous live concerts with world class musicians in professional theatres. We always have full houses and standing ovations.”
One of their main target audiences is working professionals, people who only have time for their family and work.
“They don’t go to environmental meetings and they don’t read government brochures, but they do pay attention when their children speak,” she said. “The decision makers of tomorrow, our youth, communicate with the decision makers of today, their guardians, and communities are inspired.”
In collaboration with the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, ART organized schools in Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers and Hazelton at the beginning of the year and sent out handbooks, CD’s and more to all the participating teachers so they could start to learn the songs with their students and work on the writing component of the program.
“Students write about the issues raised in the songs and voice their opinion on what people can do to help,” Arntzen explained.
For SWCC president, Shannon McPhail the opportunity to bring the program to the North was too good to pass up.
“We live in one of the most spectacular watersheds in the world and when I first saw Holly and Kevin perform I knew this would be a spectacular way to celebrate living in our watershed,” she said. “Once you see what they can do with the students you will be amazed and I am so excited to have them come to our communities in the North.”
The concert in Hazelton will showcase a variety of students from Kispiox Elementary school, John Field Elementary and GWES and entry will be by donation.
There will be a concert in Kitimat on May 24, Prince Rupert on the 27 and they will finish with a performance in Smithers on May 31 at the Della Herman Theatre.
For more information on the event contact the SWCC at 250-842-2494 or visit their website at www.skeenawatershed.com. To learn more about ART email artistresponseteam@shaw.ca or call 250-324-3402.