W.R. Myers hosts annual “Music of the Night” concert

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Taber Times

By Jared Vas
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The W.R. Myers High School Music Program is set to present its annual Music of the Night concert on Monday, March 23, at 7 p.m. 

The event will feature the school’s Concert and Stage Band, along with special guests including the St. Mary’s Concert Band, Evan Abela, Thalia Kapcsos, and several other local performers.

Tickets are available for $10, sold through band students, the W.R. Myers office, and at the door.

Andrea Makarchuk, W.R. Myers’ band director, has been leading the school’s music program for 33 years.

“I’d always wanted to be a teacher, I just didn’t know what subject it was going to be,” she said. “I started taking clarinet lessons… that kind of solidified it was going to be music education, specifically band.”

Makarchuk explained that Music of the Night has been a longstanding tradition: “I believe it started about 20 plus years ago. It started out with use to bring special guests from other places,” She explained. “This year we have performing St. Mary’s Concert Band,…and it’s kind of nice for the two schools to come together to do something versus competing in sports.”

Keaton White, an 11th-grade tuba player, explained how playing music in a group makes you accountable. “You show upland, try not to make mistakes so you don’t let people down.”

The concert is largely student-driven, with performers managing equipment, transitions, and stage logistics under Makarchuk’s guidance. “Basically, the whole show is run by kids. I have a stage manager who I explained everything to, and they’re the ones who are in charge of having kids move equipment… I orchestrated it all beforehand, but the actual evening is going to be run by them,” she said.

Preparing for the concert requires extensive planning and coordination. Makarchuk emphasized the joy of seeing students and alumni perform together: “The fun part for me is when I have former students who I ask, because then it’s like reconnecting… I love all my band kids. That’s been a lot of fun.”

Rehearsals this year have gone exceptionally well. “The high school band is sounding just amazing. And yesterday we had a stage band rehearsal, and it was so good,” Makarchuk noted.

Courtney Coté, a 12th-grade clarinetist, explained that concerts feel like the main purpose of practicing. “It gets a little more intense, but it’s a lot of fun either way,” she said.

Audiences can expect performances ranging from classical pieces to contemporary solos, including a special rendition of Canon, a variation of Pachelbel’s composition. “It’s got four solo parts, two solo flutes and two solo clarinets, which I’ve doubled them all. And it just sounds amazing.”

Many of the students agreed that Canon is an exciting piece, with 9th-grade flautist Jasmine Downey saying, “It’s one of my favourites to play.”

Makarchuk stressed the importance of music in the community: “Anytime you can showcase the arts, that is an absolutely awesome thing. The cool thing about the arts is it can include everyone… We all work together.” 

12th-grade Ryan Erik, an alto saxophonist, agrees and says that being in a group is enjoyable because everyone has a good time.

Makarchuk hopes events like this inspire students and audiences alike. “I hope they feel proud of themselves, that they’ve accomplished something, that they’ve been able to share all of their hard work,” she said.

Duke Downey, an 11th-grade student and bass clarinet player, said he hopes the performance will help the audience “look at life differently….Music has made me the man I am today.”

Tickets are open to the entire community, and Makarchuk encourages everyone to attend. “No other than that, I hope people come and have an amazing musical… It’s not just for the parents. It’s for the whole community,” she concluded.