The Nepean Concert Band is a Canadian nonprofit community concert band based in Nepean, Ontario. It operates as a provincially-registered charitable organization under business registration number 889919973RR0001. The band provides performance and educational opportunities for non-professional musicians and music students, promoting musical development and community engagement through concert band music.

History and Background

Founded in 1975 as a night-class program offered by the Carleton Board of Education, the Nepean Concert Band has grown over nearly five decades into one of Ottawa’s well-known community bands. Since inception, it has had four conductors: Bob Clarke (1975–1977), Hans Van Gijn (1977–1985), Jiri Hlavacek (1985–2004), and Terry Duncan, who has led the band since 2004. The band’s membership currently numbers about 60 volunteer musicians drawn from diverse backgrounds, who come together to perform a wide range of musical styles[2][3][5].

Mission and Activities

The mission of the Nepean Concert Band is to provide opportunities for non-professional and student musicians to advance their musical education and gain valuable performance experience. It aims to enrich the cultural life of the local community by performing concert band repertoire for civic events, community gatherings, senior citizen homes, and social services organizations. Additionally, the band supports the performance of musical arrangements by Canadian composers, fostering national cultural expression[2].

The band performs a diverse repertoire, including classical transcriptions, marches, blues, Big Band tunes, Broadway, film and television scores, and contemporary works specifically composed for wind ensembles. It also participates in local music festivals such as the Kiwanis Music Festival and MusicFest Canada[3][5].

Organization and Funding

As a registered charity, the Nepean Concert Band relies on membership fees, concert proceeds, and sponsorship from patrons in both public and private sectors to cover operational costs. These include conductor honoraria, rehearsal space rental, equipment maintenance, and the acquisition of quality musical arrangements. The band rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings and offers regular concerts, including a well-established summer concert series held bi-weekly at Andrew Haydon Park[2][3][5].

Community Engagement

The band actively invites experienced musicians to join, with a current need for trombone players. It serves the National Capital Region by providing musical entertainment at various civic and community venues, fostering a spirit of volunteerism and music education within the Ottawa area[1][3].

This summary encapsulates the Nepean Concert Band’s role as a vital cultural and educational nonprofit organization within its community, reflecting its longstanding tradition and ongoing commitment to musical excellence and community service.