John Matthews is a proud member of the Stratford Concert Band. John joined the band, 7 years ago, directly following his 29 year career in education as a teacher and administrator.
John, a former secondary instrumental music teacher, has some facility on all of the brass, woodwind and percussion instruments. He has played alto sax in the band and is currently playing clarinet. John's performance experience includes Queens and Toronto University orchestras, concert and swing bands, some occassional experinece with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra. He also played for six years with the Lighthouse Swing Band, out of Kincardine, under the direction of Don Johnson. John is a very proud parent and grandfather to two beautiful grandsons and one grand-daughter. John's favourite song is Skinny Mirinky Dinky Doo.  I joined the Stratford Legion Concert Band/Stratford Concert Band in September of 1973. I played in the percussion section with my late father Keith, my brother Tim and, at one point, my son Jason. A few years ago, I moved to the trombone section. I've been playing trombone since high school, having learned the instrument from Central School music teacher and SCB trumpet player David Manning. What has been my favourite march to perform? In the 46+ years in this amazing band, I've had many favourite marches, but the best memory by far was performing “Thundercrest March.” This march brings fond memories of performing it with my father and my brother together as the complete percussion section.
 Paula Bentley picked up trombone in grade 9 music and has been playing it since then. She joined the SCB, then called the Legion Band, in 1986 when she moved to Stratford. She is grateful to have played alongside great trombonists Merv Doerr, Clayton Brodhagen, and Jim Hamilton, to name three of many. She is enjoying playing with the currents greats, Mollie, Warren, Peter, Chris, and Josie. It is hard to choose a favourite piece, but the one that sends shivers up her spine every time it is played is “Highland Cathedral” with the pipe band. Paula's day job was high school teacher until she retired and pursued her fun job, ushering at the theatre.
 Hi! I'm Peter Bortolin and I've been part of the fantastic trombone section since 2017 and my favourite piece to date is Suite of Old American Dances. When I am not playing trombone in Stratford, I work as an engineering consultant specializing in oil & gas pipelines and related facilities, am a foodie (love trying out new restaurants), and (more importantly) play with the K-W Community Orchestra. The trombone section just started up Dem Bones, and I must say, we sound fabulous!
 Warren started playing trombone in his high school marching band, complete with shiny tunics, plaid pants and tall fuzzy hats! He joined the Stratford Concert Band in 1995, when his youngest was just a few weeks old and would come to the concerts in the park in her stroller with her mom and older sister. Over the years all 4 members of the Rooke household have played in the band, and for a short period all at the same time. It's hard to pick a favourite piece - there's just so much great music! As for a favourite march, it's a toss up between 76 Trombones (of course) and Sousa's Liberty Bell March (aka the theme to "Monty Python's Flying Circus"). In his spare time Warren is a software developer for a large Canadian bank.
 Hi I am Mollie Petryna trombone player in the Stratford Concert Band which I joined in January 2015. I had played in the Timmins Symphony Orchestra and Timmins All Star Big Band before moving to Stratford. Believe it or not we travelled to Port Elgin as invited guests to play with other Big Bands. Considering I was becoming a B&B owner in May of 2015 I still wanted to keep my skills acute while making new friends. It was a super great decision . This quintet Dem Bones is a fun way to make music and work as a team . I love the challenge of each new March we play and Alfred Reed’s compositions can touch your heart or make you dance.
 David has been a member since 2011, playing Oboe, English Horn, and saxophone. Also playing clarinet when necessary. When David is not playing music he is a professor at UW, not teaching music.
David has stated that his favorite piece of music is "Something with a juicy English horn part - Cemetery at Colleville-Sur-Mer is pretty good." David is not a huge fan of marches but does like 'Liberty Bell' for the Monty Python connection. A fun fact about David is- "I don't particularly like playing oboe but it's a good way to get calls."He also loves playing woodwind pit doubling for musicals.
 I have been an SCB member since 1996. I play clarinet. I joined the band after my first year of the Applied Music program at Mohawk College. I graduated in 1998 with Honours. Over the years, I have also played alto and bass clarinet. I have served on the executive for 11 years. I am currently Social Convenor and have also been the Librarian, Publicity Manager, Vice President, President, Past President and Chair of the 100th Anniversary Committee. I work for Zehr Insurance Brokers Ltd. as Human Resources and Finance Administrator. My favourite pieces to play are often from movie soundtracks. I loved playing Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, James Bond, The Incredibles and Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m missing my band family and I miss seeing our audience too. I find when I look at our audience, it is often like catching up with old friends. I may not get an opportunity to stop and chat, but I see you there supporting us. Thank you.
 Jeff has spent the past thirty-five years as professional accountant, wishing he were a professional musician. Although Jeff works to pay the bills, his first passion has always been music. From the beginning where he attended an elementary school for the arts, to today where Jeff enjoys singing, guitar and saxophone. About fifteen years ago, after a 20-year hiatus from music Jeff began playing saxophone again in a community band in London Ontario and quickly remembered why he enjoyed music so much. Jeff was fortunate to share the stage with many talented musicians over the past twenty years, including his brother. Jeff has played tenor saxophone in several community bands and today plays and performs in three ensembles. Jeff had the privilege to join the Stratford Concert Band in 2019, and loves the challenge of trying to keep up with the rest of the musicians. Especially playing his favourite piece a challenging saxophone feature called Five to Go.
Ever present as Jeff continued in his spare time to play again was his deep passion for music. However, at the same time Jeff was able to use this in the boardroom where he could allow the unique creative side of his brain, so nurtured in music since childhood, to come up with innovative solutions. Jeff enjoys in addition to music, his love for the great outdoors. Hiking, paddling, fishing and just listening to nature around him. He also enjoys carpentry, golf, hiking, serving on various non-profit boards and being a father to three, a grandfather to three, and a husband for the past forty-four years.  Meet Nancy!
I joined SCB in 2005. I play in the flute section alongside my good friend Mandie Hann. I am a retired secondary school English/Drama/Dance/Philosophy teacher. Strange as it may seem, my undergraduate degree was actually in Music. Waltz No. 2 from Shostakovich 2nd Jazz Suite is seriously fun to play and impossible to sit still while doing so. However, my truly favourite piece is Mark Camphouse's Symphonic Prelude: The Cemetery at Colville-sur-mer. In fact, there is so much beautiful music that we have played on our Remembrance Day concerts, that if you were to ask me tomorrow, I might make a different choice. I really enjoying playing in this band. It's both fun and challenging. You can't beat that! I hail from Tillsonburg and lived in Kirkland Lake for 24 years with Gord. During that time we were blessed with a daughter, Lisa and a son Christopher. Aside from being an elementary school teacher there I participated in the community choir there for many years.After moving to North Bay in 1986 I taught grade1 for 10 yrs. After retirement I became a quilter,learned to play the clarinet joined the J.O.Y. Concert Band(Just Older Youth), Nipissing University Student Band and a small ensemble called 'Second Wind'. My hobbies include spending time with our four granddaughters, reading, gardening, exercising, square dancing and travelling with my husband to some very interesting countries.We are both grateful for being included in the Stratford Concert Band.
I hail from Kirkland Lake On (gold mining community); elementary and secondary ed. there; North Bay Teachers' College, Univ. of Western On, post grad studies at U. of T and Ottawa U. followed by 58 years of teaching and administration from elementary to university levels.Principal; Education Officer(Ministry of Ed.) and Assistant Professor-Nipissing University teaching visual arts and teaching methodology. I am a practicing artist with a studio in my home on Trout Lake North Bay. Favorite media: watercolor and pen and ink Subject matter includes old landmarks. I have recently completed drawings of Perth County Court House and Stratford City Hall as limited edition prints.
My musical involvement began in grade 10 with a soprano sax, then tenor and clarinet. Aside from the high school band I began playing in dance bands the same year and the $5-$8.00 per 4 hour gig sure came in handy! Throughout my teaching career I have played in different dance bands, led my own groups , played pit band musicals (Mame, 42 Street etc.) and was lead clarinetist with the 22 Wing Band in North Bay. Hobbies include gardening, square dancing, travel and spending lots of time with family.  Susan sits in the Horn section of the band. It wasn’t always like this. When she joined in 2013, she was on the opposite side of the band playing trombone. It’s a long story, but she has now been playing horn for about six years. Susan is a high school teacher in Kitchener, teaching instrumental Music (band, guitar, and keyboard), Family Studies, and Developmental Ed. The Band is an escape and stress-reliever for her. Her favourite piece that that the band has played has got to be Hounds of Spring although Horn has so many great parts to play it’s hard to decide. She doesn’t really like doing marches because the off-beats are extremely hard on the face. Susan has not really minded being home more. She and her husband have three kittens who are enjoying having people around all the time to play with them and snuggle with them. They are a constant source of entertainment. During the quarantine, Susan has been enjoying baking, gardening, and sewing more often – and, of course, practising (a bit). She hopes the band can get back together soon.
 Emily is a clarinet player with the band. She first joined SCB in 2008 and continued to play with the band while home on work terms during university and has continued to play with the band since graduating. Emily is a manager with a local accounting firm BDO Canada. Her favourite march is the 633 squadron march. Her favourite piece is the Lion King medley as it reminds her of listening to the band on warm summer nights as a kid. Over the years Emily has played in the band with both of her parents and her younger sister.
Meet the Adair brothers! Chris and Tim Adair have been long time members of the SCB, Tim joining in 1964 and Chris, becoming a member in 1973. Their drum teacher was their dad Keith who had been the percussionist for the CNR Employees Band, then, the Stratford Royal Canadian Legion Concert Band. Tim is in the percussion section and Chris has crossed the floor to play In the trombone section. Playing in the band has been an important part of their lives and they look forward to the day when the band will be able to resume activities.  Mandie is a flute player with SCB. She joined in 2010, as an activity to do with her dad, who was also in the flute section at the time. Mandie is in her 3rd year on the Executive. Mandie is currently a Barista at Starbucks, while attending Martin Luther University College (Laurier) in the Master of Arts in Theology: Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy program. After graduating Mandie wants to be a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist certified in Emotion Focused Therapy and EMDR. She also wants to build educational materials for teens to understand the dynamics and patterns of healthy vs unhealthy relationships. Later on she would like to pursue her PhD in Human Relationships. Mandie’s favorite piece is The Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed - which part is actually tattooed on her shoulder. Her favorite March is Montreal Citadel, a traditional Salvation Army march. Mandie likes coffee, sleep, Subaru's and has a 3 year old orange tabby named William, who her parents affectionately refer to as their “grandcat.”
 Aliena is our Bassoon player. She joined SCB as a student in 2006, and continued to return during the summers from 2008-2012 while in Post Secondary. In 2019 Aliena returned as a full time member. Aliena works as a Teacher with the Avon Maitland School Board. Her favorite piece is Angels in the Architecture by Frank Ticheli, and her favorite march is The Children’s March :Over the Hills and Far Away” by Percy Grainger. Aliena has also planted over 100,000 trees! The picture is a picture of Aliena and fellow band member Jeff McIntyre (her dad) at one of the children’s Halloween Concert. There is also a video included of Aliena playing the bassoon solo from The Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky. |
We would like to acknowledge that we practice and perform on the traditional territory of the
Anishnabek, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples.
Anishnabek, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples.
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