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Shirley and I are touring the small beach resort town of Bucerias in Mexico on our bikes and having a blast. (It’s our anniversary treat and my gift to myself on my birthday.) She welcomes this time to ourselves as she’s already been working hard to prepare her music students at the Central Memorial High School Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Altadore for their Christmas choir concert on December 17 at McDougall United Church.

Shirley is Director of the school’s Strings Program and she’s proud of it because there aren’t many such programs in public schools across Calgary.

And I’m proud of her because of her commitment to make her teen students’ music dreams come true or at least to help shape their characters through music.

Here’s the thing; in years past, she’s asked me to help them promote their concerts but I kept turning her down, using my convenient excuse that “I’m busy.” And it was 100% true, but it may be that my age is turning my heart to mush, or that the air atop the Sierra Madre Mountains here in Mexico has cast a spell on me. All I know is that this year, I’m stepping up to the plate and finally helping Shirley sell tickets to their Christmas concert!

It should be a great concert. First, they’re practicing like there’s no tomorrow. And second, they’re a pretty talented and passionate bunch backed by a school that’s been offering music programs for the past 40 years. In fact they’ve been bringing home golds and top ratings in regional, national and international competitions like the Provincial Choir Festival, Calgary Kiwanis Festival, Alberta Choralfest, Alberta Music Festival and Alberta International Band Festival, just to name a few.

Add to that that my wife is hardly a newbie – she’s a cellist with the Calgary Civic Orchestra, Symphony of the Kootenays, and several chamber ensembles in Calgary, and she’s been teaching music for 22 years, the last nine at Central Memorial High. (Sadly for her, I can’t carry a tune!)

Writing this is making me actually look forward to watching the concert. I can already hear the students filing the air with beautiful Christmas music that could lift any heart — especially after the year we’ve had in Calgary. After the concert, you could cap off the evening by taking a nice stroll at the park under the stars. As for me, I’ll be back at the concert hall with Shirley and her students packing up all the instruments…. I admire all the hard work and dedication that goes into making concerts like these effortless.

You can get tickets to the concert online at the PVA website or you can get in touch with me. You won’t be disappointed. Hope to see you there!

Are you looking to Sell or Buy a home in Calgary and need someone who won’t rest until you’ve found your dream home or until your home is sold? I’ll work hard to earn your trust and to deliver exactly what you need. Contact me at 403-589-0004 or at TheHowardTeam.net.

About the Bryon Howard

Bryon Howard and his team of Calgary real estate professionals sell an average of two homes a week. He is a member of the MLS Million Point Club, which ranks him roughly in the top 2% of productive realtors in Calgary. His aim is not just to please clients but to help them buy/sell a home in Calgary at the best price, in the shortest time, and with the least hassle. He is a member of the RE/MAX House of Real Estate that leads in the Canadian market. Learn more about Bryon at TheHowardTeam.net.