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The Kincardine Community
Concert Band members are, back, Alex Smith (L), John Mikela, Melissa
Lutz, Dave Schmalz, Ed Marak, Ron Neyvatte, Ray Kester, Terry Samuel,
Geoffrey Dadson, Bradley Reid, Don Eyre, Dave Plaunt, Gregory Dadson,
Gregory Reid; front, Marg MacDonald (L), Michelle LaPointe, Rebecca
Dadson, Janet Browne, Nikki Reid, Bill Ambler, Julia Krasinski, Cheryl
Diffin, Sheri McKechnie, Julia Wiggerman, Deanna Gleeson, Pat Ellis,
Dwayne Ellis and Mary Kloosterboer. |
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Lily Martin, 13 months, of Kincardine, dances to the music of the
Kincardine Community Concert Band, under the watchful eye of her
grandma, Paulette Raspberry.
Ron Neyvatte remembers how the Kincardine Community Concert Band
began.
He and Jim Moore were travelling to Goderich to perform with the
community band there. "We talked during those rides and decided we
could start a band like that in Kincardine," recalls Neyvatte,
relaxing in Dunsmoor Park, waiting for the Music in the Park series
to begin Wednesday night on Canada Day - 25 years later.
"We met at my house," says Neyvatte. "We knew Don Stone and Dave
Schmalz and a few other musicians. We contacted them and we found a
band leader, Cam Marchand. We got together for practice at the high
school (Kincardine District Secondary School). "Jim had bought some
music, some simple stuff, for us to learn. Our first concert band
performance was at the Kincardine United Church in December, 1984."
Several members also started the Lighthouse Swing Band and both
bands played in that initial concert, says Neyvatte.
Over the years, the numbers in the community concert band have
varied. "We've gone from a low of 15 to a high of 30," says Neyvatte.
"This year we have 26. We hope to keep it growing."
He says the Kincardine Lions Club has helped out the band in many
ways, purchasing a set of uniforms - the green jackets and tartan
ties - and hosting the barbecue for the 25th anniversary
celebration.
Don Eyre has been a member of the band for 22 years. "I've enjoyed
working with the various conductors," he says, "starting with Ian
Burbidge, then Kent Boys, Nancy Ross, Rick Martin and now Mary
Kloosterboer."
(next column)
04/07/2009 10:51 PM
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One of the interesting stories in the band's history, says Eyre, took
place during a bitterly cold Kincardine Santa Claus Parade. "It was so
cold that the valves on all the instruments froze up and we had to sing
Christmas carols instead," he recalls. "Out in the cold is not the best
time to be playing a horn."
Besides Kincardine, the band has played for numerous Santa Claus Parades
during the season, including Southampton, Port Elgin, Seaforth, and
Clinton. "It's a necessary part of the band in order to make money to
pay our expenses," says Eyre.
The band has competed in music festivals in Stratford and Walkerton.
This year it received a high gold standing at the Grey County Kiwanis
Festival of Music; and was awarded the 2009 Award of Excellence for its
rendition of The Middy March (Alford) and Clash of the Ironclads (Hosay).
The band also plays concerts in Kincardine and Goderich. "One time, we
had three bands: Goderich, Mitchell and us," says Eyre. "We went to each
town and played as an individual band and then as a massed band. It was
great."
He says the band has always had a variety of instruments, including the
woodwinds (flute, clarinet, saxophone), brass (trumpet, tuba), and
percussion (drums). It also has a library of hundreds of scores, kept in
order by Cheryl Diffin. The conductor selects the music, deciding on
about 20 different scores for the band to practise, and then selecting
from those what to play at the concerts, says Eyre.
The age range has always varied, he says, including young people and
adults. This year, the youngest is 12 and the eldest is 78.
Ray Kester has been a band member for 25 years. He remembers in the
early days, the concert band played at the bandshell in Queen's Park.
Like Eyre, he recalls the Santa Claus Parade when the band became a
choir because the instruments froze up.
"We have played in two Kincardine Reunion parades," says Kester. "It's
always been a community band and we welcome people of all ages." He says
the piccolo, bassoon and tenor saxophone are rare instruments in the
concert band. "Most people like playing trumpet or clarinet."
The band welcomes Perrier to Music in the Park on July 8, the Goderich
Community Band on July 15, Midnight Blue on July 22, Lighthouse Swing
Band on July 29, Kincardine Brass Band on Aug. 5, Howlin' Dog Vintage
Jazz Band on Aug. 12, Late Nite Radio on Aug. 19, and Ten O'Clock Band
on Aug. 26. The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. and a free-will offering is
collected.
The Kincardine concert band plays in Goderich on July 19 at 7 p.m. at
the Harbour Park bandshell, on Aug. 29 at the Gathering of the Bands in
Victoria Park at noon, and closes the Music in the Park series on Sept.
2 at 7:30 p.m.
If you are interested in joining the concert band, contact the
conductor, Mary Kloosterboer, at
mklooster@bmts.com |
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