NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Hatter Rhys Parks sings Johnny One Note at an appreciation concert for Ralph Browne on Saturday, June 15, 2019.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
For the first time in his life, Ralph Browne got to take a seat, relax and enjoy an entire concert full of his students as a spectator.
Saturday evening marked the appreciation concert held in honour of Browne’s 30 years of work in the Medicine Hat music community – there was not an empty seat at the college’s theatre.
“That was a remarkable outpouring of love,” said Browne. “I couldn’t have asked for anything nicer – it was such a special evening for me and my family.
“I’m still speechless.”
Browne came to the city a few decades ago and has been involved and in charge of multiple music groups in the city since. He has worked with hundreds of students – many of which have pursued music as a career. He was recently diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment.
“From 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturday I got to see command performances from a number of past students and that was exciting for me,” he said. “Then, during the big event, the music was so special and the performances really touched a lot of people.
“It was a full range of emotions for me – I laughed, cried and I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the evening.”
The night featured more than 20 performances from individuals and groups Browne has worked with – including the Tartones, Selah Singers and members of Browne’s family. Browne’s son, Adam, conducted the Selah choir for the night.
“When Adam got up there with the choir, after all of those amazing performances, it was the icing on the cake for us as a family,” said Browne. “There was well over 100 people in the choir that night – that’s the biggest it’s been.”
Browne says he ranks the concert as “number one” in his life and that he couldn’t help but give plenty of hugs at the end of the night.
“Because of my immune system right now I’m not supposed to receive hugs, but I just had to,” he said. “Seeing all of these people, some of which travelled to be here just for that night, it was incredible.”
Browne says he was given bad news recently about his first round of chemotherapy, but he is feeling optimistic and hopeful of his second round later this month.
“I’m so excited about where music is going in this community,” he said. “I don’t know what my future holds for me but I want to be a part the future here in any way I can be.”
Browne said he wanted to give thanks to everyone who attended the night, everyone who gave gifts and to the college for donating the theatre for the entire day.
“I’ll take the memory of that night through the next weeks and months – it will carry me.”
