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Vanier College Annual Big Band Benefit Concert will honour Bob Slapcoff
Back again this year, the Vanier College Department of Music is delighted to announce that the Annual Big Band Benefit Concert will take place Monday, April 14 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium (A-103).
The Vanier Big Band will launch the evening followed by the J.L. Big Band under the direction of Christopher Smith and will feature the very talented Jocelyn Couture on trumpet. This is always a fantastic concert with upbeat swinging music and with over 20 musicians on stage and Jocelyn’s trumpet playing is simply amazing. No tickets needed, there is a suggested donation.
This year’s concert will be dedicated to our great friend, fellow musician and Vanier teacher Bob Slapcoff, who passed this fall. Bob started working at Vanier in the Fall of 1987 as a percussionist and retired in the spring of 2023. Even after his retirement, he continued to teach in Vanier’s music school until his death.
"Bob was an instrumental part of building the Vanier Music program to the success is it today. In the 38 years that Bob taught percussion, he helped many students move on to professional careers in orchestras around the world and his love of music and education was infectious,” said David Watts, Coordinator of the Music Department.
His skill, reputation and legacy as a percussionist are only matched by his indelible impact as a teacher and mentor for countless musicians. One student summed it up perfectly: “Bob was the godfather of percussionists in Montreal.”
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