Our Beginnings
The Southampton Concert Band was founded by Mr. Kent Boys in 2003 under the name of G.C. Huston Community Band. The band started as a beginner band that facilitated adult players to learn and perform alongside music students. The adult members paid a fee that supported the music program at G.C. Huston Public School as modelled by the Port Elgin Community Band. The G.C. Huston Public School band room was utilized for rehearsal space and this practice still continues.
Ridley Gillmore, our present band manager, took over as director of the new Southampton Community Band in 2013. Musician attendance and facility of musical technical ability increased with several concerts being held at the James Mason Centre, Saugeen First Nation and in Southampton at the United Church and the old Town Hall.
In 2016, John Wills became the conductor of the Southampton Concert Band as it is now known. Ridley has remained in a management position to ensure smooth operation of this little local band. The performance level demanded of the musicians has increased substantially and as a result, more musically capable and experienced people have been attracted to the band. At present, there is at least one person in each section who is a university trained musician and employed as an educator in the area or alternatively has pursued music at a professional level.
Ridley Gillmore, our present band manager, took over as director of the new Southampton Community Band in 2013. Musician attendance and facility of musical technical ability increased with several concerts being held at the James Mason Centre, Saugeen First Nation and in Southampton at the United Church and the old Town Hall.
In 2016, John Wills became the conductor of the Southampton Concert Band as it is now known. Ridley has remained in a management position to ensure smooth operation of this little local band. The performance level demanded of the musicians has increased substantially and as a result, more musically capable and experienced people have been attracted to the band. At present, there is at least one person in each section who is a university trained musician and employed as an educator in the area or alternatively has pursued music at a professional level.
Where We Are Now
The Southampton Concert Band is a 40-50 piece community based concert band comprised of people from all walks of life and vocations. We are fortunate to have numerous members who have enjoyed playing for years and many are educators whose studies and degrees are in music. The band performs three to four concerts per year besides our annual performances for Canada Day and Remembrance Day. Our sole intent with this musical organization is to enjoy playing our instruments, advance our capabilities as musicians and provide the best musical entertainment to our community that we possibly can. Our donation only concerts and the annual band dues fund our operating costs and also assist the music program at G.C. Huston Elementary School here in our hometown. It should be noted that several local businesses have contributed to alleviate the costs incurred during our concert season. While originally created as a beginner concert band, in the past few years the Southampton Concert Band has worked diligently and introduced more difficult adult repertoire. As a result, it has begun to achieve notoriety in this area, which they richly deserve.
|
John WillsMusic DirectorI began my musical career in small town Alberta many years ago with piano lessons. During junior and senior high school, I was exposed to several brass instruments starting with trumpet, French horn and trombone. Following graduation at the tender age of 17, I signed up with the Canadian Forces as a musician where I spent the next 25 years as a professional musician, retiring in 1994 as a Master Warrant Officer, first chair French horn player. During the last two years of my military service, I was recruited to form and direct the local Fire Department Band in Calgary which I directed for seventeen years until 2010 when I moved to Southampton. When I arrived here, it was evident that there was lots of music in the area and I quickly moved to become a part of it. I performed with the Bruce Brass quintet for a few years and was signed up with the Georgian Bay Symphony for a stint. I am presently still performing with the Port Elgin Community Band as a French horn player. I was asked to direct the Southampton Concert Band in 2016 which is now my principal musical occupation.
|
|
Ridley GillmoreManagerRidley is a retired teacher and administrator who worked for the Bluewater District School Board for 32 years. During these years, he taught vocal and instrumental music in both elementary and secondary schools and was a vice principal in three different secondary schools. At the end of his teaching career, Ridley was a behaviour consultant who worked with students and parents with mental health issues.
Ridley has been involved with the Southampton Summer Music camp since its first year in 1986. He recently resigned his position as Artistic Director of the camp after serving in that role for 20 years. Ridley is a trombonist and plays in three local bands. |
