Kristine Thiessen

Reporter

Stephen Robb has seen the Delta Community Music School evolve over much of its 25 years.

Robb has taught at the music school since 1990, and took over as music director in 1998.

“It’s a good little school,” he says in a classroom at their second floor location on Haviland Street in Ladner Village.

Robb says there was a demand for a music school in the early 1980s as many budding musicians were driving out to Vancouver to pursue their interest.

“The Delta Youth Orchestra started this school because their musicians had nowhere local to take lessons.”

Then known as the Delta Conservatory of Music, night school classes were taught through the Delta Continuing Education program.

As the music school’s web site notes (www.dcms.ca), Delta Secondary School board president Jean Kennell and husband Frank were driving forces behind the new school.

In the mid-1980’s the school’s name changed to the Delta Institute of the Arts and offered music therapy and a theatre arts program.

While those programs are no longer offered, today Robb says about 160 students are enrolled in the private lesson program. The school also reaches young students through schools such as Sacred Heart Elementary in Ladner.

The music school aims to serve all ages in Delta. Robb, who teaches clarinet and saxophone, says his students range from young children to those “quite a ways on the other side of 65.”

Robb says the number of adult students seeking lessons continues to grow. The school also offers a children’s choir, and has a beginner and advanced Delta Jazz Ensemble which performs at community events.

The 2008-2009 season celebrated the school’s 25th year serving the community as a registered non-profit organization. The anniversary was celebrated with a final student recital at the end of May.

The school is also known for hosting the South Delta Jazz Festival, now in its sixth year, and some day Robb hopes the school will start a classical chamber music workshop.

Catch the jazz festival’s final concerts tomorrow (July 11). The workshop student ensembles perform jazz standards and original compositions with the faculty at Delta Hospital grounds from noon to 3 p.m. (free admission). In the evening, Steve Maddock is in concert with Lorne Kellett at the Tsawwassen Arts Centre at 7:30 p.m. tickets $10). reporter@southdeltaleader.com