The Polar Express had a new conductor in December.

Breanne Jamieson, a Grade 11 student a Holy Trinity Academy (HTA), conducted the John Paul II Collegiate Grade 8 band in a rousing rendition of the Polar Express at the school’s concert on Dec. 8 in Okotoks.

Holy Trinity Academy student Breanne Jamieson was the guest conductor for the John Paul II Collegiate Grade 8 band when they played The Polar Express on Dec. 8 at the John Paul II Collegiate Christmas concert in Okotoks.

Jamieson was awarded the baton by John Paul II Collegiate music instructor Paul Stelter for her efforts as a work-experience student in his classroom.

Jamieson has plenty of experience watching the baton as a French horn player in the HTA band, but this was the first time she waved the musical stick.

“I knew to an extent how to do it from watching my teachers in the past, but Mr. Kennedy (HTA teacher Martin Kennedy) and Mr. Stelter helped me,” said Jamieson, who attended John Paul II in her junior high years. “When I got up there I showed the students the speed by tapping my palm — they all know to watch for this — and then I sang the first part of the song and they start singing in their head.”

There was some intense preparation before stepping up to the podium.

“I had talked to the students about what I would do before the concert,” Jamieson said. “So they were ready.

“We would play the song and then we would discuss the parts that weren’t really working. We worked on things to make it better.”

Kennedy was also there to watch how his French horn student did behind the podium.

“She did fantastic, most kids couldn’t get the nerve up to do it,” Kennedy said. “She wasn’t just waving her arms up there like some photographer, she was actually trying to express different styles of music, she did some tricks that most people wouldn’t even notice.”

One of the musicians Jamieson was conducting is someone she likely tries to give direction on helping her with the family dishes. Her younger brother Brayden played baritone saxophone in the Grade 8 band.

“It was really cool,” Brayden said. “I was really proud of her. She did really well. One time I had to look up at her to make sure I was on the right page.”

He added he and Breanne helped each other prepare for the concert.

Getting the students ready and then conducting the band was an experience she said she won’t forget.

“I had a lot of fun, but I was so nervous,” Breanne said. “Once I got up there… well, I had so much fun with those kids. They were responding to me and they were encouraging me.”

Breanne’s has tentative plans are to be a music teacher and she has already investigated the possibility of going to the University of Saskatchewan to take music.

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