A short history of the KCCB by Stewart Bishop
Genesis
Once upon a time, 1994 to be precise, the gathering forces of retirement and immigration brought together an unlikely group of individuals who would undertake to fill a large void in the life of the Annapolis Valley. This force was centered on the banks of the Cornwallis River and manifested itself at Acadia University.
Why there was no community band in the Wolfville-Kentville area in 1994 is another story, but it was an obvious deficiency for those from away who had come from places where there was such a community organization. A band known as 'Route 221' was playing in Canning at the time and entertaining at some community functions, but membership was small and the band gradually became inactive.
The Acadia homecoming parades were not what you would call great events in the early '90s' because no marching band took part. A parade without a band is pretty flat, so in 1994 with the efforts of Ron Buckley, Wendy-Lee Hamilton, Conny Bishop, Charles Goddard and Stewart Bishop the 'Acadia Alumni Band and Friends' appeared and played on October 13th, 1994 - about 20 strong and on a float. What followed is our story.
The Music Begins
Great historical events are always fixed with a place and date (i.e. the battle of Hastings in 1066). So to fix the birthplace of the Kings Community Concert Band it would have to be Greenwich in 1993. This happened actually in the fall of 1993 and barely anybody took notice. At the time, concert band experiences in Kings County centered on the school system, Acadia University and musical excellence and the concept of adults playing music for fun and recreation had not really caught on. So five musicians who enjoyed playing together gradually changed all this and a marching and concert band slowly evolved over the next 10 years, but not without many growing pains.
The years of 1994 and 1995 were critical as during this period the support of the Associated Alumni of Acadia University and the Truro Concert Band made growth possible. The Truro Band loaned music and bodies at times and the Acadia Alumni provided financial support and helped obtain rehearsal space. For this the Acadia Alumni obtained a band for homecoming parades.
By late 1994, the musicians are now called the Acadia Alumni Band and Friends. In 1995 assistance is obtained from the local School Board Adult Education program to support rehearsals at Evangeline Middle School. Sonja Landry under took instruction at this time and led the band into the spring of 1996.
Now a permanent shape is appearing. Rehearsals have returned to U-Hall at Acadia and enough bodies have assembled to attempt a walking parade. This happens on July 23, 1996 when the band leads the Girl Guides of a WAGGGs Conference through Wolfville in the dark. It is important to list here for posterity the participants in this historic event. Some of those marching were Bev Harris, Steven Oldford, Charles Goddard, Randall Bishop, Ronna McKeon, John Walsh, Stewart Bishop, Earl Hiltz, Andrew Bishop, Nellie Garvey, Mora Courtney, Wendy-Lee Hamilton, Conny Bishop, Theresa Jane-Pelly, Albert Fitch, Dave Burtt, Dale Miller, Katie McKeon and Paul Bishop.
Community Bands need a lot of things but three must haves are instruments, music to play, and a place to rehearse. 1996 was a watershed year then as the local Air Cadet Squadron loaned 8 musical instruments, the Acadia Music library loaned some musical scores and more or less regular rehearsal time started in U-Hall at Acadia. With this help, the Band was able to move out into the community and played at Port Williams, Aylesford Lake, Scotts Bay, Coldbrook, Gaspereau, Wolfville and the Valley Regional Hospital. The end of the beginning was near.
Practicing in U-Hall was becoming a problem as 1997 moved along. More and more Monday nights were taken at U-Hall by university activities and rehearsals became uncertain and fewer and fewer. Although Alumni $800 support was still there it became obvious that other rehearsal space was needed in order to continue. So who better to rescue a band than a Fire Department? On June 2, 1997 the Greenwich Fire Department opened its doors to the Acadia Alumni Band on Monday nights and saved the day.
Not yet able to march on its own, the Band gained experience by joining with Truro Band to take in the Apple Blossom, Halifax Natal Day and Dartmouth Natal day parades. Eight concerts were played in and around Kentville and membership is growing. So are finances as revenue of $725 is realized. 1997 was the first year the Band really got busy and did it with 20 active members.
The rehearsal space problem returned in 1998 as the Greenwich Fire Department is expanding. This means construction and the second floor unusable and a homeless Band is created again. Earl Hiltz is sent off to look for the promised land and returns with a deal from the Town of Kentville. This could be called play for practice space and so the Band moved to the Kentville Recreation Center in May.
The Band becomes incorporated in 1998 as the Greenwich Concert Band Society with Earl Hiltz as President, Ronna McKeown as Vice-President, Wendy-Lee Hamilton as Treasurer and Stewart Bishop as Secretary. This leads to an attempt to attract new members called "Fall for Music", a one-day band seminar, which does stimulate some interest. So the year ends with the Band settling in at the Kentville Recreation Center and fresh hope for the future.
The Growing Years
With the first elected Executive in January of 1999, the Band started to operate as a corporate body and began to move with some authority. Playing at MacDonald House and the Nova Scotia Youth Training Center as well as leading the Acadia Homecoming Parade in October, it began to develop a presence in the community. Teresa moves on and Mark Roberts takes over as Director.
Names are important and at this time some band members felt that the Band should adopt a name that reflected the geographical community of its members. Thus was born the Kings Community Concert Band name which did cause some confusion as the corporate name was still the Greenwich Concert Band Society.
A heavy marching drum is purchased in 2000 which proves to be too heavy. First used in Liverpool it is soon replaced but starts the Band on a schedule of events that become the general norm for yearly activities. These activities being the Apple Blossom Children's parade, July 1 concert in the Kentville park, July 1st parade in New Germany, Natal Days parades in Halifax and Dartmouth, the Berwick parade, Youth Training Center Christmas Concert, a Music Festival appearance and the Highly Polished Brass Concert. The band has finally moved into the community in a big way with a full slate of performances and increased revenue to support itself.
The Gold Cup and Saucer Parade in Charlottetown is the one of the best parades around and showing much spunk the KCCB goes in 2001 and does seven other parades and three community concerts the same year. David Poole becomes President in 2002 and sees the Band play a joint concert with the New Horizons Band plus the usual run of parades and concerts. Dan Edmonds takes over as Director and in 2002 the Band goes to Oxford and performs before the R.C.M.P. Musical Ride.
Community Bands try to support themselves by performing and the KCCB reached this level of activity in years 2003, 2004 and 2005. A core of active and keen musicians contributing to their community.
The original lineup!
