Band
History
A musical tradition continues ...
The Brockville Concert Band arises from a long tradition of community and
military bands in Brockville. Civic bands provided entertainment at public venues
such as community picnics and outdoor skating rinks. The Brockville Rifles
Reserve Band entertained "on the green" in the 1930s and 40s.
Military band members returning from WWII formed the Brockville Civic Band.
Re-organized as the Brockville Concert Band in 1974, the BCB inherited a
musical tradition and sheet music from Civic and military bands dating back to
the turn of the 20th century.
The Brockville Concert Band presents public concerts several times each year
and performs by invitation at community functions.
The
Brockville Museum has accepted a number of Band items into their archives. The
items can be accessed through the Museum’s online
collections database.
Musical Director
Since 1995, the Band's musical director has been trumpeter/French horn player
and (now retired) music/technology teacher Lance Besharah. Lance holds a B.A. in Music
Education from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS and an Honours
Tech Specialist qualification from Queens University in Kingston, ON.
Lance
taught music in Nova Scotia, then returned to Ontario (Brockville) where he
taught private music lessons and repaired musical instruments. At this time
Lance first joined the Brockville Concert Band - as a trumpet player. In 1980,
with no teaching jobs available in music, he started a custom cabinet-making
business which he operated successfully for many years. Lance later became the
musical director of the Brockville Concert Band and taught a music history and
appreciation course at St. Lawrence College for four sessions. In 1995 his
cabinet shop burned down and an opening for a construction tech teacher became
available at Thousand Islands Secondary School. Within a few years, the music
teacher position also became vacant and Lance now had the opportunity to marry
all of his loves. His lifelong interest in the wood lathe developed into
turning wood as an art and ultimately opening a woodturning school and gallery
(Turning North).
Lance
directed numerous musicals for the Brockville Operatic Society, Thousand
Islands Secondary School and jointly with Brockville Collegiate Institute. He
shared the stage with many other fine Brockville musicians and ensembles
performing in the Hardy Park summer concerts, at various churches, and in the
New Year’s Eve concerts. He played trumpet and French horn for many
productions of the St. Lawrence College Music Theatre Program.
Lance
was inducted into the Brockville and Area Music and Performing Arts Hall of
Fame in 2009 as a member (musical director) of the Brockville Concert Band and
again in 2010 as an individual musician.
On
May 21, 2016 at the Spring Community Concert, the Band recognized Lance’s
20 years as Musical Director with a special
presentation and gift.
