WATCH: Hundreds of music students rock out to a packed theatre

• Wentworth’s Greatest Hits 30th Anniversary concert
• Funds go towards Kelowna General Hospital
• Special guest from Prism joined the bands

Rocking out in front of a live audience to support a good cause is what hundreds of music students were doing Saturday evening.

After two years, it was the return of Wentworth Music’s concerts, where around 150 students, young and old, showed off their skills at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

“We’ve got 15 songs tonight. We’re going to rock it, bring the house down,” Noel Wentworth, VP of education at Wentworth Music told Kelowna10. “They are stoked to be in front of an audience again, this has been a big part of our lives and culture as a music school.”

Noel said performing in live shows is a great way for students to stay driven, while showcasing what they’ve learned.

“It’s important for the students because they have something as a goal they can shoot for,” he explained. “If you get that many people, in this case probably around 700 people, that are going to end up clapping for them, it’s like getting a hug from 700 people.”

The students were experiencing a real concert feel, with a packed theatre, and lots of lights and visual effects. A variety of bands played in the show, called Wentworth’s Greatest Hits, which was comprised of 15 rock n’ roll songs from the past 30 student concerts they’ve done.

Noel performed some songs with the students, and they had a special surprise guest during a performance of Take Me to the Captain by Prism.

Lindsay Mitchell, the guitar player for Prism who co-wrote the song, played with the students, giving them an opportunity to perform on stage with a Canadian rock icon.

“When I was 12 years old, one of the first purchases I ever made was an AM/FM radio and one of the songs I heard was Take Me to the Captain,” Noel said. “I was playing along to his songs on the radio and now I get to play with him up on stage… dreams like that can happen.”

Money raised from the event went towards the KGH Foundation to help children and families going through tough times. Over the past 16 years, they have raised over $264,000.

“We chose the Kelowna General Hospital to help children because that means something to me,” Noel said. “We want to help kids and families and be able to help them so they’re more comfortable.”