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CAMPBELLTON – A former Campbellton resident will be bringing one of the top musical sensations back to the North Shore in two weeks’ time.
Joey Roy, a graduate of the Polyvalente Roland Pepin started playing musical instruments in Grade 9 after years of bugging his parents for one of the instruments most parents would hate to buy, the drums.
“My parents were not musicians, but my father was a disc jockey so there was a lot of music in my life. I was always tapping along to songs and I’ve wanted to play drums since the fifth grade,” he said.
He said that all through high school, his love for music increased and he always wanted to be part of something bigger. He got that wish when he became a member of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, which will be performing at the Restigouche Theatre on Sunday, Jan. 12.
“I considered a career in music while in high school, but my guidance counsellor strongly advised against it,” he said. “I took business for two years in university before deciding that music was definitely worth investing all of my efforts into. It was the best decision of my life”
He graduate from the Universite de Moncton with a bachelors degree in music performance, percussion.
“I was part of a few rock and metal bands during high school. At university, two percussion classmates (Kevin Johnson and Patrick Gaudet) and I started a percussion trio called Triolet d’Nord, which has played all around the Maritimes. I’ve also been in different jazz ensembles, a band called Nord Sud and I recently started playing with Raphael Butler.”
Roy is a percussionist so the list of instruments is quite long. Some include the marimba, vibraphone, drum kit, djembe, tombac, triangle, darbouka, daf, snare, bells.
“I was principal percussionist in the NBYO during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 seasons. The NBYO then invited me to be a part of their team in 2011 as orchestra manager.”
Roy is sure that at one time the NBYO had performed in Campbellton but noted that he’s been told that those currently involved with the group are certain it hasn’t been for at least 10 years “so it’s time.”
He said he is honoured to be bringing the NBYO to his home town.
“We are very honoured to be playing in Campbellton with this wonderful group of young talented musicians from all over New Brunswick. I am proud to have the opportunity to show my family and friends the quality of the NBYO, especially at this year because the orchestra is sounding better than ever. The maturity level of the musicianship within the orchestra never ceases to impress me.”
Roy is the orchestra manager and music librarian. He is responsible to make sure the members receive information about rehearsal weekends, such as dates, times, locations and music.
“I work with our executive director Don Matheson and conductor Tony Delgado on logistics to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.”
As noted, Roy and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra will be performing at the Restigouche Theatre on Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at any branch of the Caisse Populaire. The NBYO is being hosted by the Campbellton Rotary Club, as the 80-plus young people along with their entourage will be arriving in the city on Jan. 10.
