music I by Peter Van Doyen I J* oo c f mC in la gu R o y a l the Roy al unique é LEAH BENDEL-YOUNG n the being northwest shaped corner of North Vancouver, vibrations It of an is not interesting a well sort are quietly the the into of of something quite extraordinary. have is been the known for fact that communities silken sounds "upper Capilano" This area cultural ground bedrock of the nurturing strings. rehearses the stomping Northshore under the Celtic Ensemble de Giguere. Strings which This weekly a at Handsworth Secondary with the School little in direction up Many and of his group has by synergistic Peter the the Van relationship in five of and of the known that and Program led Ooyen schools area. Strings students to perform with in Celtic Royal Ensemble Strings Claude Giguere often Family teaches of arrangements the students the Handsworth Schools. Peter Van Ooyen and his orchestras have been featured in Arts Alive before, about five years ago. But now, a few years down the road, you will notice a lot more brewing up Grouse way. The Royal Strings have grown from a 2 0 member high school strings group to a program of 2 0 0 in five schools which of schools. are part of the Handsworth Family Each elementary school hosts three levels of strings playing after which students can join the higher levels of orchestras consisting of the Intrada Strings (junior group), The Toccati Strings (intermediate level) and the Concerti Strings so named because of the high level of orchestra music which they learn. This year the Concerti Strings will be performing Tchaikovsky's Serenade Williams. and the Fantasia Strings on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Vaughn Not only do the students have the opportunity to play in these classical genres, they also participate in two electric strings quartets which carry the interesting names of ZAP! and VIF working on Celtic and Jazz arrangements. Last year the Concerti Players traveled to Ottawa for the National Youth Orchestra Festival where they performed in the renowned National Arts Centre and joined with 2 5 0 other students from across 8 March | April