After some two years of a COVID necessitated hiatus, Delta Music Makers (DMM) are about to depart on a 16-day European Tour.
The 40-member group leave on Aug. 8 and will entertain crowds in Anderton/Northwich, Chester, Falmouth, and Beckenham; all in England. Then, in honour of the Canadian heroes of WWI and WWII, memorial concerts will follow in Arras, France (near Vimy Ridge), and the Juno Beach Centre in Normandy, France.
Curt Jantzen, who founded DMM some 39 years ago, and still active as senior conductor, talked about how the members’ love and commitment to music kept the band together over the past two years.
“This tour was originally scheduled for 2020, but, due to COVID, was deferred for a year. Then, in late spring ‘21, deferred again! Throughout all this time, our group has held fast to the opportunity of taking this tour,” Janzen explained.
“All costs of the tours are borne by the members themselves, but we enjoy playing and sharing music in exotic locations – it gives meaning to our travels.”
Starting again this spring, DMM has been re-entertaining the people of Delta. Two notable concerts were at Kin Village and at the 16th Ladner Bandfest, which was organized and co-ordinated by DMM at Memorial Park.
While the band’s primary reason for touring is to share their love of music with the audiences, they also plan to be goodwill ambassadors for the City of Delta.
The mayors and other dignitaries in all six European venues have been invited, and will be presented with Delta Mayor George Harvie’s compliments. And, there is little doubt that, in his usual inimitable style, Jantzen will be extolling the wonders of his hometown.
