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Fox gets ready to rock 2012

"Somebody came out from Vancouver once and said that was the best five bucks they'd ever spent," starts Steve Sainas, the Rock School and recording arts teacher at Port Coquitlam's Terry Fox secondary who, for the 11th year, is organizing Rock the Fo

"Somebody came out from Vancouver once and said that was the best five bucks they'd ever spent," starts Steve Sainas, the Rock School and recording arts teacher at Port Coquitlam's Terry Fox secondary who, for the 11th year, is organizing Rock the Fox.

For this month's showcases, happening Jan. 11 and 12 at the Terry Fox Theatre, about 20 Rock School bands in Grades 9 to 12 are lined up over the two nights - with some young musicians performing on stage for the first time.

They will play original songs as well as cover tunes spanning decades: from The Doobie Brothers, Pink Floyd and Ozzie Osbourne to newer music by Bruno Mars, Metric and Avril Lavigne.

"We love music so it's a lot of fun for us to rock out," said Grade 10 student Brayson Wong, 15, who with his rock/metal/alternative band, Back to the Garden, will feature four Soundgarden songs, including Black Hole Sun, at next week's event.

The show "is really us at our best," fellow bandmate Austin Ledyard, 16, added.

New to Rock the Fox will be an act from two Korean students who will perform in their native language "so it brings an international touch," Sainas said.

Since he started Rock School in 2000, Sainas has seen hundreds of young people go through the program - many of whom started as "fringe" students, were mentored by older peers, showed positivity and promise in the craft and, as a result of their successes, were able to graduate with sufficient credits.

Sainas points to Canadian Idol contestant and Fox graduate Matt Kennedy for making Rock School what it is today. "That's when the program took shape," he reflected, "because Matt brought out the best qualities in the students, especially the younger ones, and they just blossomed."

Since then, many of Fox's Rock School students have gone on to study at recording colleges like Hot Sole Music, Nimbus School of Recording Arts and the Art Institute of Vancouver to earn their engineering diplomas; others are working for broadcast and entertainment agencies and for gaming companies to develop audio components.

These days, Rock School typically has a wait list for students wanting to learn about modern music, performance techniques and recording arts.

Rock the Fox is their talent night at the end of the semester - essentially, their final exam - "which they practice like crazy for and put on a professional event at high quality for a paying audience," Sainas said, adding, "I would really encourage the community to come out and see what good things are happening in our schools."

Tickets at $5 for Rock the Fox 2012 on Jan. 11 and 12 (7 to 10 p.m.) are available at Terry Fox secondary (1260 Riverwood Gate), by emailing ssainas@sd43.bc.ca or at the door on the night of the show. Proceeds will go to cover the cost of the production. To watch last year's bands, visit www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1556C483E5C28449.

jwarren@tricitynews.com