The 7th Annual WholeNote Bandstand
Listing of Community Bands!
Here it is - the 7th Annual WholeNote Listing of Community Bands! To the best of my knowledge, this is the most complete list of bands in Southern Ontario you’ll find in one place. The list is in order of rehearsal day, starting with Monday. It’s wise to make contact by phone or email before heading out to a rehearsal, just in case the group you’re interested in has an upcoming event. If you find your band’s listing is incorrect, forward the info to me at merlinwilliams@sympatico.ca and I’ll do an update in the November issue.
I have dropped a couple of bands from the list this year. One, because I know first hand that it’s gone; another one because the e-mail, website and phone contact were all dead ends.
I’ve had some requests from community big bands this summer to be added to this list. There’s barely enough room to get the concert bands in this issue, so you have an extra month to get me info. I’ll include it in my October Bandstand column.
Community and Concert Bands
Burlington Concert Band
Conductor: Don Allan
Contact: Larry Ridge
(905) 637-1661 hridge@cogeco.ca
www.burlington.ca/english/music.html
Rehearsals: Mondays, 8:00 p.m.
Burlington Music Centre
2311 New Street, Burlington
Instruments needed: all welcome
Cambridge Concert Band
Conductor: Gerald Stephenson
Contact: Karin Wood
519-624-1550 info@cambridgeconcertband.com
www.cambridgeconcertband.com
Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:45 p.m. at the Preston Legion, Br. 126, Westminster & Margaret Sts.
Cambridge
Instruments needed: double reeds, percussion, tenor sax, clarinets
East York Concert Band
Conductor: Ernie Walker
Contact: Ernie Walker
(416) 266-1958 conductor@eastyorkconcertband.ca
www.eastyorkconcertband.ca
Rehearsals: Mondays, 8:00 p.m. starting Sept. 12 at McGregor P.S. Coxwell & Mortimer
East York
Instruments needed: horns,
bassoon, clarinets, flutes
Kitchener Musical Society Band
Conductor: Paul Schalm
Contact: Paul Schalm (519) 742-1137 schalmp@golden.net
www.kmsb.org
Rehearsals: Mondays at 7:30 at the Victoria Park Pavilion,
Kitchener
Instruments needed: all
The Koffler Concert Band
Conductor: Resa Kochberg
Contact: Resa Kochberg
905-731-4845, or Adrienne Cohen
416-636-1880 ext. 228
www.bjcc.ca
Rehearsals: Mondays, 8:00 p.m. at the BJCC, 4588 Bathurst St., Toronto
Instruments needed: all are
welcome, course fee required
Markham Concert Band
Conductor: Doug Manning
Contact: Derek van Dassen booktime@sympatico.ca
www.mcb.on.ca
Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:30 p.m. at Markham Community Centre, Hwys. 48 & 7, Markham
Instruments needed: all
Oshawa Civic Band
Conductor: Barrie Hodgins
Contact: Bill Askew
(905) 579-2220
Rehearsals: Mondays, 8 pm at
the Memorial Park Band Shell
Simcoe St. S. in Oshawa
Instruments needed: timpani,
Niagara Falls Concert Band
Conductor: Brenda Green
Contact: Bob Durst 905-935-3276
Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:30 p.m. at the Legion on Spring St.,
Niagara Falls
North Toronto
Community Band
Conductor: Stephen Chenette
Contact: John Krongold
416-787-5193 info@ntcband.ca
416-787-5194
www.ntcband.ca
Rehearsals: Mondays, 7:15 p.m. – call for location
Instruments needed: trombone,
The Regimental Band of The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin
and Halton Regiment)
Conductor: Henry Verschuren CD
Contact: Henry Verschuren
416- 564-3126 or henryver@sympatico.ca
Rehearsals: Monday evenings - call for time and location
Intruments needed: all, some supplied
South Simcoe Concert Band
Conductor: Major Don Embree
Contact: Ron McKay 705-424-0312
Rehearsals: Mondays,
Oetiker Ltd., 203 Dufferin St. S. Alliston
Instruments needed: all
Waterloo Concert Band
Conductor: Martin Lacoste
Contact: AboutTheBand@waterlooband.com
www.waterlooband.com
Rehearsals: Mondays at 8:00 p.m. in the Adult Recreation Centre, King St., Waterloo
Instruments needed: all (esp. saxes, horn, tuba, double reeds)
Barrie Concert Band
Conductor: Daniel Johnston
Contact: Earl Winter 705-721-6863 or Henry Bergsma 705-721-4168
Rehearsals: Tuesday, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Allendale
Recreational Centre, corner of Bayview and Little Ave., Barrie
Instruments needed: clarinets, oboe, bassoon
Brampton Concert Band
Conductor: Darryl Eaton
Contact: David Harmsworth 905- 451-6389 (h) or 905-451-0174 (b) cbcband@aztec-net.com
www.bramptonconcertband.com
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at 55a Queen St. E., Brampton (beside the library)
Instruments needed: all
Dundas Concert Band
Conductor: Bill Rolfe
Contact: Dave Baldry
905-573-1650 dundasconcertband@hotmail.com
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. at Dundas Town Hall, Main St. W. Dundas
Instruments needed: euphonium, flute, clarinet, trombone, oboe, bassoon, percussion
Festival Wind Orchestra
Conductor: Gennady Gefter
Contact: Shelley Goodman
416-491-1683
www.festivalwindorchestra.com
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at Earl Haig S.S., room 168,
100 Princess Ave. North York
Instruments needed: oboe, saxes, percussion
Galt Kiltie Band
Conductor: Allan Lee
Contact: Gord Cupskey 519-624-9934 info@galtkiltieband.com
www.galtkiltieband.com
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. please contact for location
Instruments needed: all
Hart House Symphonic Band
Conductor: Keith Reid
Email: hhsb.sa.utoronto.ca
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at Hart House
Instruments needed: oboe,
bassoon, horn, low brass and
membership are required
Newmarket Citizens Band
Conductor: Leslie Saville
Contact: Carol Bracken (905) 478-2530 ncband@rogers.com
Email: ca.geocities.com/ncband@rogers.com
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. at Lions Hall, 375 D’Arcy St. Newmarket
Instruments needed: all welcome, esp. bassoon, tuba, all bass instruments
Oakville Wind Orchestra
Conductor: Chris Arthurs
Contact: n/a
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. at Iroquois Ridge S. S.
Glenashton Rd., Oakville
Instruments needed: all
Pickering Community
Concert Band
Conductor: Andrew Locker
Contact: Brian Rose 905-683-9867 brianrose@sympatico.ca
www.concertband.ca
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:15 p.m. South Pickering Seniors Centre
910 Liverpool Rd., Pickering
Instruments needed: clarinets, trombones
Thornhill Community Band
Conductor: Denny Ringler
Contact: Joan or Lawry Sax 416-223-7152 or tcband@rogers.com
www.tcband.ca
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at Westmount C.I., Bathurst & New Westminster, Vaughan
Instruments needed: all welcome, esp. bassoon, percussion
Caledon Concert Band
Conductor: Rob Kinnear
www.caledonconcertband.ca
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 pm at the Caledon East Community Complex, behind the OPP station on Old Church Rd. Caledon East
Instruments needed: all
Etobicoke Community Concert Band
Conductor: John Edward Liddle
Contact: 416-410-1570 join@eccb.ca
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 pm Etobicoke C.I.
86 Montgomery Rd. Etobicoke
Instruments needed: bassoon, clarinets, trombones, trumpets
Frontenac Community Concert Band
Conductor: Rick Cory
Contact: Rick Cory 613-549-7436 rick.cory@sympatico.ca
post.queensu.ca/~ab25/FCCB
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 Loyalist Collegiate, Kingston
Instruments needed: all
Hamilton Concert Band
Conductor: Gerald Stephenson
Contact: Dave Pearson 905-772-5205 dpearson@ionsys.com
www.hamiltonband.org
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 Emmanuel United Church, Upper Ottawa & Mohawk., Hamilton
Instruments needed: horns, percussion, bassoon, French horns
Mississauga Pops Concert Band
Conductor: Denny Ringler
Contact: Allan Harris 905-681-2047 info@mississaugapops.com
www.mississaugapops.com
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. at Eden United Church, NW corner of Winston Churchill & Battleford, Mississauga
Instruments needed: mallets, bass trombone, horns
Thorold Reed Band
Conductor: Brian Williams
Contact person: Brian Williams 905-227-0150
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., St. Charles Elementary Catholic School, 25 Whyte Ave. N., Thorold
Instruments needed: all
Clarington Concert Band
Conductor: Glenn Ward
Contact: Colin Rowe, President 905-697-8956 or claringtonconcertband@yahoo.ca
www.geocities.com/claringtonconcertband
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. at John M. James P. S.,
175 Mearns Ave., Bowmanville
Instruments needed: all
Fort Erie Legion Concert Band
Conductor: Brian Williams
Contact: Brian Williams
905-227-0150
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Fort Erie Legion, Military Rd. Fort Erie
Instruments needed: all
Lydian Wind Ensemble
Conductor: Mike Onyschuk
Contact: Jacqueline Beaufford 905-666-1909 dbeaufford@rogers.com
www.lydianwindensemble.ca
Rehearsals: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., 4040 Anderson St., Whitby
Instruments needed: all
North York Concert Band
Conductor: John Edward Liddle
Contact: Sidney Gangbar
416-781-6728
www.northyorkconcertband.ca
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 8:00 p.m.
Instruments needed: all
Swansea Community
Conductor: Frank Evans
Contact: Michelle Springer
416-286-1045 michellespring68@hotmail.com
Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. at Western Technical and Commercial School, 123 Evelyn Cres., Toronto (starting Sept. 15)
Instruments needed: all are
Bayfield Winds Concert Band
Conductor: Hugh McGregor
Contact: Paul Dearlove
519-565-5611
Rehearsals: every 2nd Sunday, 1:30 p.m. at Goderich D.C.I.
Instruments needed: all
Guelph Concert Band
Conductor: Colin R. Clarke
Contact: Lanny Fleming, President
519-546-5857, info@guelphconcertband.org
www.guelphconcertband.org
Rehearsals: Sunday 7:00 p.m. at the Guelph Youth Music Centre (75 Cardigan St.)
Instruments needed: all
Northdale Concert Band
Conductor: Stephen Chenette
Contact: Dixie McMorran
416-466-7409 northdaleconcertband@hotmail.com
www.sololight.com/northdaleconcertband
Rehearsals: Sundays 7:30 - 10:00, starting Sept 11
Location: Scarborough, call for directions
Instruments needed: piccolo, euphonium, keyboard, percussion
Brass Bands
Fergus Brass Band
Conductor: Bill French
Contact: Bill French 519-877-9453
Rehearsals: Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. on Blair St., across from the Fergus Legion
Instruments needed: all brass band instruments
Metropolitan Silver Band
Conductor: Fran Harvey
Contact: Michelle McCall
416- 864-5551 or metband@hotmail.com
www.metunited.org
Rehearsals: Tuesday evenings
at 7:45 pm in the Metropolitan
United Church (corner Queen St. and Church St.) downtown Toronto
Instruments needed: all brass
Weston Silver Band
Conductor: Larry Shields
Contact: Dave Pearson
905-772-5205 westonsilverband@westonsilverband.org
www.westonsilverband.org
Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Central United Church,Weston Rd. N. of Lawrence
Instruments needed: cornets
Youth Bands
Burlington Teen Tour Band
Conductor: Bill Hughes
Contact: Laura Filman 905-335-7808 filmanl@burlington.ca
www.teentourband.org
Rehearsals: Music Centre in Burlington’s Central Park - call for times
Instruments needed: all
Brass Bands, Youth
Etobicoke Youth Band
Conductors: Les Dobbin and Ken Hazlett
Contact: Michael Samotowka 416-239-9724 eybbandguy@yahoo.ca
www.eyb.com
Rehearsals: call
Instruments needed: all, but
Hannaford Street Youth Band/Hannaford Street Junior Band
Conductor: Larry Shields
Contact: Larry Shields 416-503-8673 hannafordyouth@aol.com
Rehearsals: Saturdays at de la Salle College
Instruments needed: all brass & percussion - membership is by audition
Toronto Youth Wind
Conductor: Colin Clarke
Contact: Adrienne Pluim
416-712-6582 manager@tywo.ca
Rehearsals: Sunday afternoons
St. Michael’s College,
1515 Bathurst St. at St. Clair
Instruments needed: all, call for audition info
The Toronto Argonauts Band are always on the lookout for players to fill out their ranks for the remainder of the CFL season. If you subscribe to their philosophy “faster + louder = better”, then give Musical Dictator (not a typo!) Steve Hayman a call at 416-769-2847, steve@argonotes.com or go to their website, www.argonotes.com.
The band is currently looking for some sousaphones, as well as all other instruments.
Woodwind
doubler Merlin Williams is an Artist/Clinician for Jupiter Music Canada. If you
would like an upcoming band event to be featured in the Bandstand column, feel
free to contact Merlin by phone at 416-803-0275 or by e-mail at
merlinwilliams@sympatico.ca
You can also find him
on the web at http://www.merlinwilliams.com.
