It's always nice to hear from our listeners, specially when the reviews are great! Thank you Doug and Colleen for the wonderful letter and photographs.
Fifty years of Music! (By Doug R. Bundy)
Last Sunday afternoon, we attended the Concert put on by the Goderich Laketown Band to celebrate their 50th year of providing music to the people of Goderich!
What a wonderful group of musicians, about 50 of them, ranging in age from the youngest, a teenager, to two of the original members, Don McMillan and Jim Peters.
The band was formed in 1967-Canada’s Centennial Year- and has had several leaders over the years, with Charles Kalbfleisch the first leader. Their current leader, Hugh McGregor, introduced two other former leaders, now playing in the band. They were Al Mullin (Trumpet) and Irla Stewart (French Horn) .
Several former members also travelled from afar to play along with their friends for this special occasion. They seem to fit in just right!
The Band played favorites like the Colonel Bogey March and the Royal Air Force March Past, as well as a Canadian Folk Song Overture and several others, showing the highly professional aptitude that all the players have, guided by their conductor, Hugh McGregor. Included was the premier Performance of “Snug Harbour” a stirring piece written by local composer, Jeff Smallman, who was present in the audience.
As a lead in to the Laketown Band music, a pair of percussionists, Brennan Connolly and Dave Robilliard thrilled the audience with their expertise on drums, tambourines, marimbas, and other percussion instruments.
The concert ended with the band playing the Howard Cable version of O’ Canada, which the audience sang along with, loudly and proudly, to end a wonderful afternoon of Music!
Then, to top it all off, the band and their families and many of the sponsors were invited to attend a banquet, put on by Lakeshore United church. At this gathering, the Band Assistant Conductor, Katie Dockstader presented plaques to honour the two men who were original members of the band when it was first formed. Don McMillan and Jim Peters accepted the gifts and were loudly applauded by all!
You can hear the Laketown Band, along with the MacKay choristers and the Harbouraires at the annual Sound of Goderich, on Tuesday, May 9th, at the Christian Reform Church on Mill road.
Here we see the entire Band, At Lakeshore United Church: (Photo by Colleen Maguire )
Hugh McGregor leading the band during the 50th Anniversary concert
(Photo by Colleen Maguire )
Don McMillan (L) and Jim Peters (R) accepting their awards of appreciation for their years of service. Don was our first president and Jim worked with Charles Kalbfleisch in getting the band going. Both are actively engaged in the Band, Don on trombone and Jim on Sax.
(Photo by Colleen Maguire )