COMMUNITY
Giving Back To The Community Through Music
The Sidney Concert Band is an active member of the Saanich Peninsula and enjoys supporting local organizations. Over the years, the Band has collaborated with local middle and high schools through joint concerts and has provided sessional instruction to students. These relationships are important because the youth are the future for sustainability of community bands.
Sidney Concert Band 2023
Sidney Concert Band brought the “Magic of Christmas” to three local band programs.
Since December 2016, the Sidney Concert Band has been dedicating their annual ‘by donation’ Christmas Concert to help fund local band programs. On December 18, 2023 the SCB held another successful Christmas concert, billed as the “Magic of Christmas”, featuring the SCB and 21 students from the three Saanich district Secondary School bands; Stelly’s, Claremont and Parkland.
Through the generosity of the public in attendance, a total of $1500 was raised that evening, giving each of the three schools involved $500 to put toward their band programs. This brings the SCB donations raised for local band programs to a total of $10,400 since 2016!
The Saanich school district generously provided the venue at Parkland Secondary School, enabling 100% of the proceeds to go directly to the three local high school band programs.
In addition to raising funds, the members of the SCB were delighted to be able to work with such talented students and teachers. Conductor Bruce Ham shared his thoughts in the following message to the Superintendent and CEO of Saanich schools, Mr. Dave Eberwein:
“The students representing your schools were outstanding young people with so much talent. You must be very proud of them and their teachers who do such a wonderful job: Cristina Sousa, Jessica English and Norbert Zeigler are all great assets to your district.”
In turn, Superintendent Eberwein congratulated SCB Conductor Bruce Ham and the rest of the concert band for their efforts to support local band programs:
“We are so fortunate to have you and the Sidney Concert Band be such a wonderful addition to the holiday spirit within our school community.”
From L to R: SCB President Paul Schwagly, Parkland director Cristina Sousa, Stelly’s director Norbert Ziegler, Claremont director Jessica English and SCB Conductor Bruce Ham, Dec 18, 2023. (Photo credit: Sandy Terry)
Massed Band performance at Parkland with the Sidney Concert Band and 21 high school band students from the 3 SD63 secondary schools on December 18, 2023. (Photo credit: Sandy Terry)
Sidney Concert Band 2022
Filling Christmas Stockings for Middle School Bands
The Sidney Concert Band held its annual Christmas Concert at the Shoal Centre on December 12 with an audience of over 225. Total proceeds of $2100 were donated to help support School District 63 band programs at Bayside, North Saanich and Royal Oak Middle Schools. The highlight of the evening was a massed band performance including 30 students representing the three middle schools and conducted by their teachers, Amber Aitchison, Jonnie Bridgeman and Cristina Sousa… proving that music can be performed at any age … the massed band ages ranged from 12 and to 88 all having a wonderful time entertaining the audience!
Pictured are SCB President, Paul Schwagly, teachers: Cristina Sousa (North Saanich), Jonnie Bridgeman (Royal Oak), Amber Aitchison (Bayside) and Bruce Ham (SCB Conductor) – Photo by Sandy Terry
Sidney Concert Band 2019
Raises $1500 for Local Kittyhawk Air Cadets Band Program
Sidney Concert Band 2018
Supports Local Middle School Band Programs
Raises $1500 for Music Education
Students from Bayside, North Saanich and Royal Oak middle schools also perform.
Sidney Concert Band 2017
Supporting Local High School Band Programs
From left: Bruce Ham (Conductor), William Beauvais & Sierra Newlove (Stelly’s Secondary), Svenja Frey & Ryan Kelly
(both from Parkland Secondary).
Sidney Concert Band 2017
Supporting Local High School Band Programs
The Sidney Concert Band is pleased to announce that a total of $800 was donated to the Kittyhawk Air Cadet Squadron Band, thanks to the generosity of its patrons for the annual SCB Christmas Concert, held on December 12, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church in Sidney. The following comment was received from a squadron band parent, and nicely sums up their reaction to our donation:
It was a lovely show Yvonne, thank you so much for inviting us out and naming the Squadron Band as the beneficiary of the show’s proceeds. As I’d mentioned, tonight’s proceeds will go towards a new bass drum for the Squadron which we sorely need!
All the best, Wade Noble, Band Parent
676 Kittyhawk Air Cadet Squadron Band
Sidney Concert Band 2015
Scholarship
Jason Gordon, a former student at Spectrum Community School, was the winner of our $1000 band scholarship and is now a full time music student at The University of Victoria. Jason has performed several euphonium solos with the band. He also played jazz trumpet and trombone and participated in his high school tour bands, jazz combos and pit orchestra, and is now pursuing post-secondary studies in music education and history. Our band is pleased to have him continue playing euphonium with us.
Runners-up Conrad Inch (Claremont Secondary) and Laura Kratofil (Stelly’s School) each received $250. in recognition of their musical achievements in their respective high school bands.
Sidney Concert Band
Supporting Local School Band Programs
As a community band, we like to help community organizations by providing music for their charity / fundraiser events.
Examples of Recent Events Include: 2 major concerts (spring & fall) per year at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney, Concert for the Community at the Sidney Band Shell, Sidney Santa Sparkles Parade, Sidney Canada Day Parade and the Annual Christmas Concert.