Sunday, November 8, 2009 - In Remembrance Concert wit special guest David Rogers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 - L'Arche Stratford Thanks Local Concert Band

Thanks to those who shared their talents

On behalf of the L'Arche Stratford Community, we would like to thank all of the wonderful musicians who were a part of Bandarama this year. It was a wonderful evening to celebrate the gift of music and the talent of about 200 people from age 12 to 82 in Perth County. Thank you to Nigel Evans, Leslie Belland and the Stratford Concert Band, as well as their guests, the bands from Stratford Central Secondary, Stratford Northwestern Secondary, St. Michael Catholic Secondary, St. Marys DCVI and Mitchell District High School. The members of our community who came to enjoy the evening had a great time, especially Al, who is still talking about conducting the entire ensemble with Nigel. Thank you for that very special moment. We are grateful for the generous donation that will go towards our new Creative Arts Centre for Creative Expression, a program for our community members with a developmental disability and those who live at home with their families.

Marg Van Herk Paradis
Community leader/ executive director
L'Arche StratfordStratford

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - Cabaret Concert Press Release

Stratford Concert Band members to perform

Sound Bites: A Cabaret Concert at Stratford Country Club

 

The Stratford Concert Band, under the direction of Nigel Evans, will present their first-ever cabaret-style concert beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31st, at Stratford Country Club,        53 Romeo Street North in Stratford. Band musicians will form small ensemble groups to perform instrumental and vocal pieces in a relaxed setting while the audience may indulge in fabulous desserts with the price of admission.

Our Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Jamie Cottle. He is the morning show co-host at 107.7 MIX FM and is involved in local community theatre in both St. Marys and Stratford, which makes him the perfect fit to host the evening.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - First Place Award at Stratford Kiwanis Festival

 The SCB finished first at the Stratford Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts today, taking home the Keith Adair Trophy for best performance in the concert band class.

In the festival, the concert band performed Illyrian Dances (Woolfenden), Tempered Steel (Young), and Wedding March, receiving an overall mark of 93.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 - Spring Concert Press Release

Stratford Concert Band’s Music and the Bard concert

to feature music inspired by the works of William Shakespeare

 

The Stratford Concert Band, under the direction of Nigel Evans, presents their spring concert at     3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26th, at Central United Church, 194 Avondale Avenue in Stratford. Come hear one of the best concert bands in Ontario perform music inspired by the works of William Shakespeare. Selections will include Prokofieff's The Montagues and The Capulets from the Romeo and Juliet Suite, Shostakovich's Hamlet Suite, and a medley of tunes from the musical Kiss Me Kate based on the Bard's, The Taming of the Shrew.

 

Our Master of Ceremonies for the concert will be Ted Follows, who has been acting and directing for the stage, television and radio for nearly 60 years, including performances at the Stratford Festival. 

Saturday, March 1, 2008 - Stratford Beacon Herald

High school musicians should be proud of their commitment to this community

"What an incredible talented city we live in! I'm writing to say thank you to the youth of this city and area.

On Feb. 20 we had the pleasure of hearing 250 young people (and young at heart) chase away the winter blues with their wonderful music. Thank you Stratford Concert Band for organizing Bandarama and again blessing us with their talents.  Five city and district high schools participated: Central, Northwestern, DCVI and Mitchell and their leaders were all outstanding.

We hear so much about this area being the capital of meth. I want to stand up and honour and applaud the young people whom we don't always hear about in the paper - the ones who make a difference in our communities by giving of their rime and energy volunteering, by warming our hearts on a cold winter night with talents of music, by mentoring, etc.

Thank you for being a good example of what Stratford is all about, "giving to others." The donations were given to the House of Blessing, for which we are so grateful. They certainly filled a need.

Thanks again to everyone who came and participated in any way.

Blessings,"

Florence Kehl, Executive Director, House of Blessing, Stratford

Thursday, February 21, 2008 - Over $1,000 raised for Stratford House of Blessing

The Stratford Concert Band's annual Bandarama concert was the biggest ever this year, not only in the number of schools and band members participating, but also in the amount of money raised for the Stratford House of Blessing. On hand at the concert were founding members Florence and Norman Kehl, who gratefully accepted the more than $1,000 collected at the door from those who attended the concert. Way to go, Stratford!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008 - BANDARAMA 2008 Press Release

Stratford Concert Band to join forces with five local high school bands in support of the Stratford House of Blessing

The Stratford Concert Band, under the direction of Nigel Evans, will play host to the largest Bandarama ever this year, with guest bands from Stratford Central Secondary School, Stratford Northwestern Secondary School, St. Michael’s Catholic Secondary School, St. Marys DCVI and Mitchell District High School.  The concert will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20^th, 2008, in the gymnasium of Northwestern Secondary School (418 Forman Avenue, Stratford).  All are welcome, and admission is a suggested $5 donation per person to the Stratford House of Blessing.

Each band will perform several numbers on its own, after which all the bands will join to form a group of more than 150 performers. This massed band will perform several pieces, including selections from the musical Chicago and the “Bandarama” march.

This concert is a great opportunity for the adult members of the Stratford Concert Band and their fellow musicians from the area high school bands to work together and learn from one another.

“This promises to be an exciting and varied evening of music-making,” said Nigel Evans. “We continue to be impressed by the high standards of these wonderful high school music programs and the excitement they generate. We look forward to seeing you at the concert.”

Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Former Band Member Corey Rempel Receives Rave Review

Corel Rempel, a recent former member of the Stratford Concert Band, received a rave review from local newspaper The Kitchener Record today for his recent tuba performance at the First United Church of Waterloo this past Sunday afternoon, calling it a standout highlight.

"With a program full of strong offerings, it's difficult to choose a particular highlight. And yet Joseph Horovitz's Tuba Concerto was a standout, in part because it is so unusual to hear the tuba in such a prominent role, as the primary instrument interacting with the larger ensemble, and in part because Corey Rempel's playing was, in a word, virtuosic.

Despite the challenges of coaxing a three-octave range from the instrument -- not to mention having to sustain extraordinarily long musical lines, along with tight, fast cascades of notes -- Rempel's playing remained strong and expressive, the notes well-enunciated throughout. What a privilege, to hear such an extraordinary performance of a remarkable piece that brought out the varied textures and wonderful versatility of the tuba's sound."  (Read the full article here)

The executive and membership of the Stratford Concert Band are extremely proud of his accomplishment. Congratulations Corey!

Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007

The 2007 Annual General Meeting was held tonight. We discussed a number of things, including the possible addition of a cabaret style concert in the spring, and eliminating the tie pins from the uniform. The mission statement was amended. And of course, elections.
The 2007-2008 executive looks like this:

President: Mike Bondi
Vice President: Troy Roach
Past President: Tony Bridges
Treasurer: Steve Gruchy
Publicity: Christine Hughes
Social Convenor: Tiffany Pitt
Concert Manager: Elizabeth Fontaine
Librarian: Nancy Stott-Jones
Secretary: Paula Bentley

Congratulations to all!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Merv Doerr Scholarship Awarded to Jason Sippel

The band is pleased to announce that this year's Merv Doerr scholarship has been awarded to trumpeter Jason Sippel.  Jason is leaving us at the end of the summer to study music at the University of Western Ontario.

Congratulations Jason!

Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006 - Merv Doerr Scholarship Awarded to Teri Fralick

The band is pleased to announce that this year's Merv Doerr scholarship has been awarded to trumpeter Teri Fralick. Teri is leaving us at the end of the summer to study music at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo.

Congratulations Teri!

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 - Double First at Stratford Kiwanis Festival

The SCB finished first in both the Concert Band and Concert Band March classes at the Stratford Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts today, taking home both the Keith Adair Trophy (for the Concert Band class) and the Kenneth Avery Dearlove Memorial Trophy(for the March class).

In addition, the band was presented with the Harry Yeandle Award for the Best Band in Competition, and was subsequently invited to compete in the Provincial finals!!!

In the Concert Band class, performing Blue Shades (Tichelli) and O Magnum Mysterium (Lauridsen), the band scored a mark of 94.  In the Concert Band March class, performing Under the Double Eagle, and Padstow Lifeboat, the band scored 91.  Both classes had 6 bands entered from around Southwestern Ontario.

The adjudicator, Mr. Dennis Ullman, had this comment:

"One of the finest bands I've ever had the privilege of adjudicating".