Scout House Cadets Performing With Symphony

Preston Scout House Cadets, of Cambridge, Ontario will celebrate Christmas with a return to Kitchener’s Centre in the Square theatre, for a drum line performance on stage with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony during the orchestra’s annual Yuletide Spectacular, which will feature more than 200 performers playing favourite songs of the holiday season.

The Cadets’ drum line will be featured in Little Drummer Boy, the holiday classic that became an instant hit when it was first performed in 1958. The song, featuring the phrase “pa rum pum pum pum” more than 20 times, tells the story of a boy playing his drum in tribute and the reaction of the new born baby Jesus: “Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum, me and my drum.”

Many artists have recorded Little Drummer Boy, including an unlikely duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Their version became Crosby’s most popular recording since White Christmas.

Participation in the Yuletide Spectacular ties a festive bow on the 75th anniversary year activities of the Cadets and Preston Scout House. The first performance of 2013 by both drum lines took place at Centre in the Square last January, during the Symphony’s Drums, Drums, Drums family concert. Since then, Scout House and the Cadets have performed more than 30 times. The Cadets celebrated their first anniversary in September expanding to add a brass section to become a full drum and bugle corps.

Yuletide Spectacular runs from December 13 to 15. The Cadets will perform an evening show on Friday, December 13, a matinee and evening show the following day and a final matinee at 2:30 on Sunday, December 15. In addition to four performances, the Cadets’ Yuletide schedule includes rehearsal the evening of Thursday December 12 and a dress rehearsal the following afternoon.

Ticket information is available at telephone (519) 745-4711.

The Cadets already have a number of performances tentatively scheduled for 2014, including Baden Powell Spaghetti Dinner February 20, performance at a Scout House rehearsal March 2, Drumline Ontario Show hosted by Cadets and Ventures Winter Guard March 29, Scout House Annual Spring Opening arena show April 27, Drumline Ontario Championships May 10, a repeat performance at the Cambridge Arts Festival with the date to be determined, Cambridge Canada Day Parade July 1 and the Preston Scout House Annual Invitational Tattoo August 9.

Preston Scout House established the Cadets as part of the recruiting drive to mark the 75th anniversary of the original band’s first practice in October 1938 as an innovative new activity for members of the 1st Preston Boy Scout Troop.

Preston Scout House Cadets music practices are Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm at Scout House building, 1580 Queenston Road in the Preston neighbourhood of Cambridge. Marching sessions are held one Saturday morning per month. Boys and girls from 12 to 18 are welcome.

More information about Preston Scout House Cadets is available at pshcadets [at] outlook [dot] ca

For more information about Preston Scout House, contact Activities Director Nancy Weiler at telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the Web site at http://www.scouthouseband.com/