Tag Archives: featured

Join the Second Chances Strings!

Join the Second Chances Strings!

HERE IS YOUR SECOND CHANCE!
The Second Chances Community Band Program of Nova Scotia has started a brand new string orchestra program and we are looking for interested players (novice OR experienced) from our community to join us.

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:
Gail Teixeira
Check out her Bio HERE

WEEKLY REHEARSAL NIGHT:
Tuesdays evenings from 7-9pm
Christ Church, 50 Wentworth St, Dartmouth NS, B2Y 2T2
We are asked to use the entrance off Dundas Street (at the rear)

FALL REGISTRATION:
You can register for the fall season HERE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris D. Ward, B.Mus, B.MusEd, MIR Diploma
Second Chances Community Band Program of NS
Executive Director, Conductor and Instructor

Website:
https://www.secondchancesband-ns.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/secondchancesbandns
Twitter:
@SecondChancesNS
E-mail:
eloboesolo@gmail.com
Mobile Phone:
(902) 293-6848

Join the Second Chances Singers!

Join the Second Chances Singers!

HERE IS YOUR SECOND CHANCE!
The Second Chances Community Band Program of Nova Scotia has started a vocal ensemble and we are looking for singers (novice OR experienced) from our community to join us.

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:
Chuck Homewood
Check out his Bio HERE

WEEKLY REHEARSAL NIGHT:
Mondays from 7-9pm
Northwood Halifax, 2615 Northwood Terrace Halifax, NS B3K 3S5

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
“Pop” choir as in popular will draw its’ repertoire from contemporary commercial music of all genres. Depending on ability the choir will perform in unison to four part harmony and beyond. Arrangements of blues, jazz, folk, swing, movie music and musical theatre styles will be explored. The Singers will also serve as the “house” singers for collaborative works with the Second Chances instrumental ensembles. All are welcome in an inclusive and safe environment of community engagement.

FALL 2024 REGISTRATION:
You can register for the next season HERE

For more information, contact:
Chris D. Ward, B.Mus, B.MusEd, MIR Diploma
Second Chances Community Band Program of NS
Executive Director, Conductor and Instructor

Website:
https://www.secondchancesband-ns.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/secondchancesbandns
Twitter:
@SecondChancesNS
E-mail:
eloboesolo@gmail.com
Mobile Phone:
(902) 293-6848

Join the Second Chances Beginner Band!

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HAVE YOU PLAYED A CONCERT BAND
INSTRUMENT BEFORE?

IF NOT, DO YOU WANT TO LEARN?

HERE IS YOUR SECOND CHANCE!
The Second Chances Community Band is always looking for new players from our community to join any of our ensembles. We accept both amateur players with various levels of ability as well as absolute beginners. There is a brand new beginner session that starts every September!

PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR:
Serena Godmaire
Check out his Bio HERE

WEEKLY REHEARSAL NIGHT:
Monday evenings from 7-9pm
Northwood Halifax, 2615 Northwood Terrace Halifax, NS B3K 3S5

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
The beginner band program is intended for those individuals who have either never picked up a musical instrument before, or those who played many years ago and need a ‘refresher’ on both reading and technique. The band will meet once a week and instruction will be in a positive and supportive group setting.

FALL 2024 REGISTRATION:
You can register for the fall season HERE

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris D. Ward, B.Mus, B.MusEd
Second Chances Community Band Program of NS
Executive Director, Conductor and Instructor

Website:
https://www.secondchancesband-ns.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/secondchancesbandns
Twitter:
@SecondChancesNS
E-mail:
eloboesolo@gmail.com
Mobile Phone:
(902) 293-6848

2024 Annapolis Community Band Fest July 19 – 21, 2024

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Annapolis Basin Community Band Festival
Hosted by: Annapolis Basin Community Band, Annapolis Royal NS
When: July 19-21, 2024
Where: Annapolis Royal Academy (590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0)

2024 Poster:
2024 Guest Conductors:
Christine Blanchard
Richard Bennett 

2024 Band Levels
Band Fest will feature two bands! The Champlain Band for intermediate-advanced players and the MacKay Band for beginning-intermediate players.

Pre registration is very helpful to us for assembling the music folders ahead of time. Register by July 1, 2024 to receive early bird discount! Looking forward to seeing everyone!

2024 Venue
The Academy, Annapolis Royal
590 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0

2024 Final Concert
Sunday, July 21, 2024 at 2:00pm
Location: TBA

2024 Cost:
The registration fee is $100 per participant ($90 if paid before July 1st), $70 for each additional family musician. Full time students pay a reduced fee of $50. This price includes instruction time, coffee breaks and a Saturday evening dinner and dance.

2024 Accommodation:
For a list of accommodation options and prices, please visit www.annapolisroyal.com

Website
https://annapolisbasincommunityband.wordpress.com/bandfest/

 

2024 Halifax Community Band Festival May 24 to 26, 2024


WHAT IS A COMMUNITY BAND FESTIVAL?

The Second Chances Community Band of Nova Scotia is only one of the many community-based musical ensembles in the Atlantic provinces. Together, these many ensembles create a musical network and supportive family that helps promote musical learning and ensemble playing for everyone at any stage of life. The community band festivals, hosted in different communities throughout Nova Scotia each year, are an opportunity for the many members of this Atlantic Canadian musical family to come together, learn from each others experience, celebrate each others successes, build lasting friendships, and make memorable music together.

We are hosting the 9th Annual Halifax Community Band Festival during the weekend of May 24th through 26th, 2024 and we hope you will consider joining us! The Band Fest committee has begun the process of organizing and raising the necessary funds to make this valuable community band weekend a success!  There is much work to do in preparation for what could potentially become the largest community band festival in Atlantic Canada!

2016 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

THE HALIFAX COMMUNITY BAND FESTIVAL – AN OVERVIEW

2017 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

THE MACKAY “MUSIC FOR LIFE” LEARNING BAND

2018 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

THE HARGREAVES ADVANCED BAND

2019 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

AN ORIGINAL WORK FOR BAND COMMISSIONED


This year, the Halifax Community Band Festival will be offering three levels of playing ensemble:
1.   A Beginner Ensemble, called the Ron MacKay band – for players with 1-2 years of experience. Who is Ron MacKay, you ask? Find out here: Ron MacKay Bio
2.   An Intermediate Ensemble, called the Chris Ward band – for players with 2-3 years of playing experience.
3.   An Advanced Ensemble, called the James H. Hargreaves band – for players with more than 3 years of experience. Who is James Hargreaves, you ask? Find out here: James H. Hargreaves Bio (coming soon)

Our hope is that all three ensembles will be made up of players from many different community bands and orchestras from all over Atlantic Canada.  Please consider wearing your ensemble’s performance attire in the final concert to reflect the number of groups represented at the festival.

Please take some time to explore the Halifax Community Band Festival related web pages located under the Hfx Band Fest 2024 drop down menu above.

– – – – – – PLEASE REGISTER FOR BAND FEST NOW !!! – – – – – –

Are you even the slightest bit interested in:
1.  Meeting many other community band players from all over the Atlantic Canada?
2.  Playing under the baton of talented, respected and professional conductors/educators?
3.  Experiencing the excitement of playing in ensembles with full instrumentation?
4.  Having a fantastic weekend of musical fellowship and music making with friends?

If so, then I encourage you to REGISTER FOR BAND FEST NOW! Decisions regarding what Second Chances can afford to include as activities during the weekend event are dependent upon the number of participants. Registering now is not a firm commitment to attend, but simply an indication of interest in being there.

Register Here:
Band Fest Registration

Band Fest 2024 Brochure:
Brochure 2024 – coming soon

Past Halifax Band Fest Brochures:
Brochure – 2014.pdf
Brochure – 2015.pdf
Brochure – 2016.pdf
Brochure – 2017.pdf
Brochure – 2018 (none printed)
Brochure – 2019.pdf
Brochure – 2020 (cancelled due to Covid-19)
Brochure – 2021 (cancelled due to Covid-19)
Brochure 2022.pdf
Brochure 2023.pdf

Halifax Band Fest in the News:
The Chronicle Herald
Cyndi Sweeney’s 2014 article “Don’t Stop the Music: Strike a Chord for Community”

The Halifax Community Band Festivals are proudly hosted by: cropped-facebook-background-text-jpg-1500x630.jpg

2024 Cape Breton Community Band Fall Fest Oct. 18-20, 2024

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Cape Breton Community Band Fall Festival
Hosted by: Second Wind Community Band, Sydney NS
When: October 18th thru 20th, 2024
Where: Victoria Park Armouries, 4 Garrison Rd, Sydney, NS B1P 7G9

2024 Guest Conductors:
TBA

DesBarres Band (Advanced)

MacKay Band (Refresher)

There will be two levels of bands – band members who are novice players with more than 1-2 years experience to come and play in the MacKay Band and for those who consider themselves “seasoned musicians”, we have the more advanced band called the DesBarres Band.  Experience these wonderful musicians and conductors and have lots of fun making music with like minded community band members from around the Maritimes.

2024 Announcement:

TBA

Brochures from Past Years:
2016 Cape Breton CBFF Flyer
2015 Fall Band Fest Brochure
2014 Sydney Band Fest Flyer
2022 Cape Breton Band Fest
2023 Cape Breton Band Fest Announcement

2024 Venue
Victoria Park Armouries
4 Garrison Road, Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1P 7G9

NEW Second Wind Website – check it out!
https://secondwindcommunityband.com/

To Register
Contact Elizabeth Buffett by e-mail: buffettelizabeth@gmail.com

Bathurst Band Fest 2023 – September 22-24, 2023

What is Band Fest?
Bathurst Community Concert Band and Phantom Jazz are co-hosting their Annual Bathurst Band Fest during the weekend of September 22 – 24, 2023 and are hoping you will join them! Opportunities abound in this setting with an open invitation to kick off your musical season on and inspiring path! Sit in with the concert band as they rehearse new music for the season or try your hand at the community jazz band.

The BCCB and Phantom Jazz personally invite all members of their fellow concert and jazz bands around Atlantic Canada to join them in sharing their own repertoire in a finale concert. Building on the tradition of NBBA Band Blasts, the Bathurst Band Fest committee is well on the way toward final preparations to make this valuable community band weekend a success!

Bathurst Community Band Festival
Hosted by: Bathurst Community Concert Band and Phantom Jazz Band, Bathurst NB
When: September 22-24, 2023
Where: Bathurst High School

2023 Websites:
BandFest – https://www.nbbamusic.ca/bandfest.html
Swing Dance – https://www.nbbamusic.ca/swingdance.html

2023 Guest Conductors:
Jeff MacQuarrie (Bathurst) and Alistair Tulloch (Bathurst) will once again be your host conductors bringing a wealth of experience combined with relaxed, enjoyable, inviting, entertaining methods of weaving through our weekend together.

We are also VERY pleased to announce the addition of following people who will be on hand to conduct and offer workshops as needed: Andrea Lewis (Saint John), Jennifer Purdue (Fredericton), Christopher Guindon (Miramichi), Dave Hills (Toronto), plus Clare Ahern (Swing Dance – Saint John)

2023 Venue
Bathurst High School, 640 King Ave, Bathurst, New Brunswick

2023 Accommodation:
For a list of accommodation options and prices, please visit https://staycanada.ca/new-brunswick/bathurst/

Host Band Websites
Bathurst Community Concert Band – https://bathurstband.weebly.com/
Phantom Jazz Band – http://phantomjazz.weebly.com/

To Register: click here

If so, then we encourage you to REGISTER FOR BAND FEST NOW and spread the word to your fellow band mates!