Canadian Community Band & Orchestra Resources

Links and resources for the amateur bandsman and/or orchestral musician in Canada.
Also check out the local community bands/orchestras to find out when the groups near Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge in Ontario, Canada rehearse.

Purpose

This page is a list of website links. For any community group, you should be able to find contact information on their website. In this day and age, a website is an essential tool for any group to promote itself, advertise concerts, find sponsors, grow its membership, etc.. If your community music group does not yet have a website, you should encourage them to establish one.

Some Tips

For helping you locate a community music group near you, Google Maps can be a very useful tool.
To get an idea of where the group is located, go to Google Maps and enter "<city/town>, <province>, Canada" in the Search box.

| Newfoundland/Labrador | New Brunswick | Nova Scotia | PEI | Quebec | Ontario | Manitoba | Saskatchewan | Alberta | British Columbia | Yukon | NWT | Nunavut |

| NationalGroups | OtherLists | Pro/Semi-Pro Groups |

| Miscelleneous Stuff | How to add your Group | Administriva |

Ontario

Ontario: Community Concert Bands

Note: This list contains groups both with and without websites

Acton Citizens' Band (see, old) - Acton, Ontario
Argonotes - official band of the Toronto Argonauts - Toronto, Ontario
Aurora Community Band - Aurora, Ontario
Ayr-Paris Band - Ayr/Paris, Ontario
Barrhaven Community Concert Band - Barrhaven, Ontario
Barrie Concert Band (1) - Barrie, Ontario
Beaver Valley Concert Band - Thornbury, Ontario
Brampton Concert Band - Brampton, Ontario
Brantford Memorial Concert Band - part of Brantford School of Instrumental Music- Brantford, Ontario
Breslau, Bloomingdale and Maryhill Concert Band (no website, info) - Breslau, Ontario
Brockville Concert Band - Brockville, Ontario
Burlington Concert Band (1) - Burlington, Ontario
Caledon Concert Band - Bolton, Ontario
Cambridge Concert Band - Cambridge, Ontario
Carleton Place and District Community Band (1) - Ottawa, Ontario
Centralaires Concert Band - Ottawa, Ontario
Chatham Concert Band (facebook) - Chatham, Ontario
Ceremonial Band of the Waterloo Regional Police Service - Waterloo, Ontario
Chinguacousy Concert Band (1) - Brampton, Ontario
Clarington Concert Band - Bowmanville, Ontario
The Concert Band of Cobourg - Cobourg, Ontario
Columbus Concert Band (Facebook) - Toronto, Ontario
Dundas Concert Band - Dundas, Ontario
East York Concert Band - East York (Toronto), Ontario
Encore Symphonic Concert Band - Toronto, Ontario
Encore...The Concert Band - London, Ontario
Essex Community Concert Band - Windsor/Essex, Ontario
Etobicoke Community Concert Band - Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke Youth Band - Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario
Fanfare Rockton Band - Rockton, Ontario
Fergus Brass Band - Fergus, Ontario
Festival Wind Orchestra - Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario
Fort Erie Legion Concert Band (no website) - Fort Erie, Ontario
Frontenac Community Concert Band - Kingston, Ontario
Galt Kiltie Band - Cambridge, Ontario
Gloucester Community Concert Band (2) - Ottawa, Ontario
Goderich Laketown Band - Goderich, Ontario
Greater Windsor Concert Band - Windsor, Ontario
Guelph Concert Band - Guelph, Ontario
Haldimand-Norfolk Concert Band (no website, facebook, 1, 2) - Hagersville, Ontario
Halton Hills Concert Band - Georgetown, Ontario
Hamilton Concert Band - Hamilton, Ontario
Highlands Concert Band (kashaja[at]sympatico.ca) - Haliburton, Ontario
Highlands Wind Symphony (1, 2, kashaja[at]sympatico.ca) - Haliburton, Ontario
Holland's Glorie Band (no website, no e-mail) - St. Catharines, Ontario
Concert Band of Kanata - Kanata, Ontario
Kemptville Community Concert Band (facebook) - Kemptville, Ontario
Kincardine Community Concert Band - Kincardine, Ontario
Kitchener Musical Society Band - Kitchener, Ontario
Lambton Concert Band - Sarnia, Ontario
La Salle Community Concert Band - Kingston, Ontario
Lincoln Concert Band - Lincoln, Ontario
London Concert Band - London, Ontario
Markham Concert Band - Markham, Ontario
Malta Band Club (facebook) - Toronto, Ontario
Milton Concert Band - Milton, Ontario
Mississauga Pops Concert Band - Mississauga, Ontario
Music Society of St. Helens, The (website down Aug2014) - Toronto, Ontario
Muskoka Concert Band - Utterson, Ontario
National Capital Concert Band - Ottawa, Ontario
Nepean Concert Band - Nepean, Ontario
New Hamburg Band (no website, craig.walker[at]sympatico.ca, Ken Seltzer: 519-662-2432) - New Hamburg, Ontario
Newmarket Citizens' Band - Newmarket, Ontario
Niagara Falls Concert Band (no website, see 1, niagarafallsconcertband[at]gmail.com) - Niagara Falls, Ontario
Northumberland New Ventures Band - Cobourg, Ontario
No Strings Attached Band - Sudbury, Ontario
North Durham Concert Band (formerly known as the North Durham Millenium Band) - Scugog, Ontario
North Toronto Community Band (old website) - Toronto, Ontario
North York Concert Band - North York (Toronto), Ontario
Northdale Concert Band - North York (Toronto), Ontario
Oakville Wind Orchestra - Oakville, Ontario
Orillia Concert Band - Orillia, Ontario
Ottawa Community Concert Band (OCCB) - Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa Wind Ensemble - Ottawa, Ontario
Owen Sound City Band - Owen Sound, Ontario
Oxford Breeze Community Novice Band - Woodstock, Ontario
Oxford Winds Community Concert Band - Woodstock, Ontario
Pembrooke Legion Community Band - Pembrooke, Ontario
Perth Citizens' Band - Perth, Ontario
Petawawa Legion Community Band - Petawawa, Ontario
Peterborough Concert Band - Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough New Horizons Bands - Peterborough, Ontario
Pickering Concert Band (1) - Pickering, Ontario
Port Elgin Community Band - Port Elgin, Ontario
Rockland Concert Band (1) - Clarence/Rockland, Ontario
Resa's Pieces Concert Band - Toronto (North York), Ontario
Richmond Hill Concert Band - Richmond Hill, Ontario
Royal Canadian Legion Concert Band (1, tedwinick[at]rogers.com ) - Toronto, Ontario
Rouge River Winds - Toronto, Ontario
Scarborough Concert Band - Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough Society of Musicians - Scarborough, Ontario
Seaway Winds - Cornwall, Ontario
Silverthorn Symphonic Winds - Toronto, Ontario
Southampton Concert Band - Southampton, Ontario
South Simcoe Concert Band (website down Jan10/2015, see 1, 2) - Alliston, Ontario
Stittsville Legion Concert Band - Stittsville, Ontario
Stratford Concert Band - Stratford, Ontario
Swansea Community Concert Band - Toronto, Ontario
Telephone City Musical Society (TCMS) Concert Band (no website, facebook, 1) - Brantford, Ontario
Thunder Bay Community Band (website+facebook offline Nov/2016, facebook, 1) - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thornhill Concert Band - Thornhill, Ontario
Thorold Reed Band (no website, facebook, 1, 2) - Thorold, Ontario
Timothy Eaton Memorial Church Youth Band - Toronto, Ontario
The 48th Highlanders Military Band Association - Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Concert Band - Etobicoke, Ontario
Toronto East Youth Concert Band - Toronto, Ontario
Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra & Concert Winds - Toronto, Ontario
Trenton Citizen's Band - Trenton, Ontario
Wallaceburg Concert Band (facebook) - Wallaceburg, Ontario
Whitby Concert Band (old) - Whitby, Ontario
Uxbridge Community Concert Band (no website, facebook) - Uxbridge, Ontario
Valley Concert Band - Arnprior, Ontario
Waterloo Concert Band - Waterloo, Ontario
Wellington Wind Symhony (formerly Wellington Winds, pre-2015) - Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario
West Elgin Community Band (website offline Nov/2016) - West Lorne, Ontario

University Concert Bands - that are not restricted to music majors
Hart House Symphonic Band - Toronto, Ontario
McMaster University Concert Band - McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
University of Guelph Concert Winds - Guelph, Ontario
Warriors Band (facebook) - University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
Western Mustang Band - University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) Alumni and Community Concert Band / Rouge River Winds - Scarborough, Ontario

Beginner/New Horizons Bands
Lakeshore New Horizons Band - Bowmanville, Ontario
New Horizons Music North York - Toronto, Ontario
Ottawa New Horizons Band - Ottawa, Ontario
Peterborough New Horizons Bands - Peterborough, Ontario
New Horizons Band of Toronto - Toronto, Ontario

Defunct Bands:
Bayfield Winds Concert Band (website down Apr2008) - Bayfield, Ontario - dissolved July 16, 2007
Bell City Concert Band - now part of Brantford School of Instrumental Music- Brantford, Ontario
Colonel By Community Wind Ensemble (no website, glonsdal[at]chat.carleton.ca unconfirmed) - Gloucester, Ontario
Greater Toronto Teachers Wind Ensemble - Toronto, Ontario -reported as dissolved in fall 2005
Hannaford Community Band - Toronto, Ontario
DOCA Brass (De La Salle Oakland Crusaders Alumni Brass Ensemble) - renamed to the Uptown Brass (sponsored by De La Salle Oakland Crusaders Alumni) - Toronto, Ontario
Koffler Concert Band (website down Nov2008) - (Koffler Centre for the Arts) Toronto, Ontario
Lindsay Kinsmen Band (website down) - Lindsay, Ontario
Lydian Wind Ensemble (website down May/2009) - Whitby, Ontario - folded March 2008, reborn as the Community Concert Band of Whitby
North Durham Millennium Band - Port Perry, Ontario - renamed to the North Durham Concert Band
Orillia Wind Ensemble - Orillia, Ontario - renamed the Orillia Concert Band in 2017
Peterborough Wind Symphony (no website, see 1, peterford[at]nexicom.net) (1) - Peterborough, Ontario - community info page went offline Nov/2016
Port Colborne Concert Band (no website, see) - Port Colborne, Ontario -community information entry went offline Nov/2016
York University Wind Symphony (website down Jan/2015) - North York (Toronto), Ontario
Wellington Winds - Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario was renamed the Wellington Wind Symphony in 2015

More contact information for bands can be found on the following pages:
Ontario Band Directory - Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Band Association

Ontario: Community Marching Bands

Note: Unlike the above-listed "Community Concert Bands" (of which some may do the odd parade), these groups are more geared towards marching and parades.

Baturyn Concert Marching Band - Mississauga, Ontario
Burlington Teen Tour Band - Burlington, Ontario
Burlington Top Hat Marching Orchestra - Burlington, Ontario
Kingsville-Essex Associated Band - Kingsville, Ontario
Niagara Memorial Militaires Alumni Drum Corps - Niagara Falls, Ontario
Optimists Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps - toronto, Ontario
Preston Scout House Alumni Band - Cambridge, Ontario
Toronto Signals Band (old website) - Toronto, Ontario
Vanguard Concert/Marching Band (part of the Ukranian Youth Ensembles Corp.) - Mississauga, Ontario

Ontario: Community Orchestras

Note: This list contains groups both with and without websites.

Cambridge Symphony Orchestra (previously: Cambridge Community Orchestra) - Cambridge, Ontario
Counterpoint Community Orchestra - Toronto, Ontario
Deep River Symphony Orchestra - Ottawa Valley, Ontario
Divertimento Orchestra - Ottawa, Ontario
Dundas Valley Orchestra - Dundas, Ontario
Durham Chamber Orchestra - Ajax, Ontario
Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra - Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario
Georgian Bay Symphony - Owen Sound, Ontario
Huronia Symphony Orchestra - Barrie, Ontario
International Symphony Orchestra - Sarnia, Ontario
Kanata Symphony Orchestra - Kanata, Ontario
Kawartha Community Orchestra and Kawartha Strings (old) - Peteborough, Ontario
Orchestra Kingston - Kingston, Ontario
The Kawartha String Orchestra - Peteborough, Ontario
Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra - Kitchener, Ontario
London Community Orchestra - London, Ontario
London Promenade Orchestra - London, Ontario
Milton Philharmonic Orchestra - Milton, Ontario
Music 4 Life String Orchestra - Ajax, Ontario
Muskoka Chamber Orchestra (facebook offline Nov/2016, no website, facebook) - Bracebridge, Ontario
North Bay Symphony Orchestra - North Bay, Ontario
NYCO: North York Concert Orchestra - North York (Toronto), Ontario
Northumberland Orchestra & Choir - Cobourg, Ontario
Oakville Symphony Orchestra - Oakville, Ontario
Ontario Pops Orchestra - Etobicoke (Toronto), Ontario
Orchestra Toronto - Toronto, Ontario
Ottawa Chamber Orchestra - Ottawa, Ontario
Parkdale United Church Orchestra - Ottawa, Ontario
Pembroke Symphony Orchestra - Pembroke, Ontario
Peninsula Orchestra - Niagara, Ontario
Peteborough Symphony Orchestra - Peteborough, Ontario
The Rose Orchestra - Brampton, Ontario
The Sault Symphony Orchestra - Sault Saint Marie, Ontario
Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra - Scarborough, Ontario
Sudbury Symphony Orchestra - Sudbury, Ontario
Quinte Symphony - Belleville, Ontario
Resa's Pieces Strings - Toronto, Ontario
Symphony on the Bay (formerly Symphony Hamilton) - Hamilton, Ontario
Strings Attached Orchestra (facebook) - Toronto, Ontario
The Strings of St. John's - Ottawa, Ontario
Summerhill Orchestra - Toronto, Ontario
Timmins Symphony Orchestra - Timmins, Ontario
York Symphony Orchestra - Richmond Hill (Toronto), Ontario

University Orchestras - that are not restricted to music majors
University of Waterloo Orchestra - Waterloo, Ontario
Hart House Orchestra - University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
University of Toronto at Scarborough (UTSC) String Orchestra - Scarborough, Ontario

Youth Orchestras:
Brant Youth Symphony Orchestra (no website, 1) - Brant County, Ontario
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Youth Orchestra - Kitchener, Ontario
Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy - Ottawa, Ontario
La Jeunesse Youth Orchestra - Port Hope, Ontario
London Youth Symphony - London, Ontario
Mississauga Youth Orchestra - Mississauga, Ontario

Defunct Orchestras
Guelph Youth Orchestra - Guelph, Ontario - dissolved in 2002
University of Guelph Orchestra - Guelph, Ontario - cancelled in Sept 2005
Eastern Ontario Community Orchestra - Belleville, Ontario - reported in Oct 2006 to have become the Quinte Symphony (a semi-pro/amateur group)
Kawartha Community Orchestra and Kawartha Strings (old, old2) - Peteborough, Ontario - reported Defunct Dec 2023
Millennium Youth Orchestra (website down 2005) - Toronto, Ontario
Symphony Hamilton - Hamilton, Ontario - renamed Symphony on the Bay
Timothy Eaton Orchestra (no website, tucker[at]utsc.utoronto.ca, see 1) - Toronto, Ontario

Ontario: Community Brass Bands

Note: This list contains groups both with and without websites.

Brass Conspiracy! (website down Jan10/2015) - Toronto, Ontario
Brass Roots Band - London, Ontario
Ebytown Brass Band (no website, facebook) - near Oxford County, Ontario
Intrada Brass - Oakville, Ontario
Kincardine Brass Band (no website, facebook) - Kincardine, Ontario
Maple Leaf Brass Band - Ottawa, Ontario
Metropolitan Silver Band - Toronto, Ontario
Oshawa Civic Band - Oshawa, Ontario
Plumbing Factory Brass Band - London, Ontario
Southern Winds Brass Quintet - LaSalle, Ontario
Uptown Brass Band (sponsored by De La Salle Oakland Crusaders Alumni) - Toronto, Ontario
Weston Silver Band - Toronto, Ontario
Whitby Brass Band - Whitby, Ontario
York Region Brass (no website, facebook) - Aurora, Ontario
Guelph Salvation Army Brass Band - Guelph, Ontario
Cambridge Salvation Army Brass Band - Cambridge, Ontario
Kitchener Salvation Army Brass Band - Kitchener, Ontario

Ontario: Community Big Bands

Note: This list contains groups both with and without websites.

Chinguacousy Swing Band (1) - Brampton, Ontario
Festival City Big Band - Stratford, Ontario
Loretta Hale Big Band - Hamilton, Ontario
MCB Swing Ensemble - Milton, Ontario
Montcrest Band (website down Aug14/2011) - Toronto, Ontario
Octokats - Toronto, Ontario
Royal City Big Band - Guelph, Ontario
Sophisticated Swing - Burlington, Ontario
Stittsville Main & Abbot Dance Band - Stittsville, Ontario
The George Rose Big Band - Brantford, Ontario
The Jazz Pollcats - Ottawa, Ontario
The Peter Banting Swingtet - Hamilton, Ontario
Toronto Megacity Swing Band - Toronto, Ontario
Thornhill Swing Band - Toronto, Ontario

Ontario: Other Bands

Haliburton Highlands Silver Flutes Marching Band (no website, 1) - Port Perry, Ontario
Polished Brass Brass Quintet - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Wychwood Clarinet Choirs - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ontario: Military / Regimental Bands

Note: This list contains groups both with and without websites.
Note: This list contains only concert bands; pipe bands are not listed here.
Note: Many of these bands are volunteer bands, with both civilian and enlisted members.

22 Wing Band - North Bay, Ontario
7th Toronto Regiment RCA Band (no website, facebook) - Toronto, Ontario
8 Wing Band (1) - Trenton, Ontario
Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada - Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Forces Base Borden Brass and Reed Band - Borden, Ontario
Central Band of the Canadian Forces [professional band] - Ottawa, Ontario
HMCS Star Band - Hamilton, Ontario
HMCS York Band - Toronto, Ontario
Regimental Band of the Governor General's Foot Guards [professional band] (2) - Ottawa, Ontario
Regimental Band of the Governor General's Horse Guards [professional band] (2) - Ottawa, Ontario
Regimental Band of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry - Hamilton, Ontario
Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Band [for RMC students] - Kingston, Ontario
The Brockville Rifles Band - Brockville, Ontario
The C & E Garrison Military Band - Kingston, Ontario
The Lincoln & Welland Regiment Band - St. Catherines, Ontario
The Regimental Band and Bugles of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada (2) - Toronto, Ontario
Windsor Regiment Band - Windsor, Ontario

Defunct Bands

Canadian Forces Band Directory

Newfoundland and Labrador

NL: Community Concert Bands
Gower Community Band - St. John's, Newfound Land
MUN Wind Ensemble (formerly Memorial University Concert Band) - St. Johns, Newfoundland

NL: Community Orchestras
Memorial University Chambre Orchestra - St. Johns, Newfoundland

NL: Military and Regimental Bands

NL: Other groups
Memorial University Jazz Ensemble - St. Johns, Newfoundland

New Brunswick

NB: Community Concert Bands
Codiac Concert Band / Harmonie Codiac - Riverview, New Brunswick
Fredericton Concert and Marching Band - Fredericton, New Brunswick
Port City Second Chance Band (no website, contact Doug Reece at d-n-a_at_rogers_dot_com) - Saint John, New Brunswick
Sackville Citizens' Band - Sackville, New Brunswick
St. Mary's Band - Saint John, New Brunswick

Defunct Bands:
Riverview Citizen's Band - Riverview, New Brunswick - replaced with the Codiac Concert Band (confirmed May 24/2006)
Moncton District Services Band - Moncton, New Brunswick - replaced with Harmonie Codiac Concert Band (confirmed June 1, 2006)

NB: Community Orchestras
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (semi-pro) - Moncton, New Brunswick

NB: Military and Regimental Bands

NB: Other groups

Nova Scotia

NS: Community Concert Bands
Bridgewater Fire Department Band - Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
Halifax Concert Band - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Kings Community Concert Band (website down Jan/2015) - Kentville, Nova Scotia
Mersey Band - Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Parrsborro Citizens' Band - Parrsboro, Nova Scotia
Sackville Community Band - Sackville, Nova Scotia
Second Chances Band - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Second Wind Community Band - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Truro Concert Band (no website, facebook) - Truro, Nova Scotia
Valley Community Concert Band (no website, contact: Roger Taylor. 902-798-1730; dhamusic2000@yahoo.com, 1) - Hantsport, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth Citizen's Band - Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

NS: Community Orchestras
Chebucto Symphony - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Pictou County Community Orchestra - Stellerton, Nova Scotia
Four Seasons Community Orchestra (no website, contact: Roger Taylor. 902-798-1730; dhamusic2000-at-yahoo.com, facebook ) - Windsor, Nova Scotia
Yarmouth Orchestra (no website, tubalips[at]hotmail.com, 1) - Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

NS: Brass Bands
Chester Brass Band - Chester, Nova Scotia

NS: Big Bands
Annapolis Big Band - Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Mahone Bay Legion Swing Band - Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
Nova Swing Band(website down Jan/2015) - Greenwich, Nova Scotia

NS: Military and Regimental Bands

NS: Other groups

Prince Edward Island

PEI: Community Concert Bands
Second Chances Community Band - Charlottetown, PEI

PEI: Community Orchestras
PEI Symphony - Charlottetown, PEI
Definitely Not The Symphony- Charlottetown, PEI

PEI: Military and Regimental Bands

PEI: Other groups
Great George Street Brass Band (facebook - Charlottetown, PEI
Holland College Welshman Community Band (facebook group, facebook login required) - Charlottetown, PEI

PQ: Quebec

Community Concert Bands
Carrefour Musical Outaouais [French] - Laval, Quebec
Kirkland Concert Band - Kirkland, Quebec
Harmonie de Granby / Granby Community Band [French]- Granby, Quebec
Harmonie Laval [French] - Laval, Quebec
Harmonie Salaberry-de-Valleyfield - Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec
306 "Maple Leaf" Wing Concert Band (website down Jan/2015) - formerly known as the "Black Watch" (website down, Aug14/2011) - Kirkland, Quebec
L'Marmonie Knowlton Harmony Band - Knowlton, Quebec
Lakeshore Concert Band - Montreal, Quebec
Orchestra à Vents Non Identifié - Montreal, Quebec
L'Union Musicale De Shawinigan (en francaise) (website down Aug 14/2011) - Shawinigan, Quebec

PQ: Community Orchestras
Orchestre symphonique de l'Isle [English/French website] - Montreal, Quebec

PQ: Military and Regimental Bands

PQ: Other groups

Manitoba

MB: Community Concert Bands
Westwood Community Band - Winnipeg, Manitoba
German Club Band (Winnipeg) - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg New Horizons Band - - Winnipeg, Manitoba

See also:
Manitoba Community Band Directory - maintained by the Manitoba Band Association
Note: Most of these groups don't seem have websites, but the directory typically includes contact information.

MB: Community Orchestras
Brandon Community Orchestra - Brandon, Manitoba
Winnipeg Pops Orchestra - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg Wind Ensemble - Winnipeg, Manitoba

MB: Big Bands
Westwood Jazz Ensemble (website down Aug 14/2011) - Winnipeg, Manitoba

MB: Military and Regimental Bands
Royal Winipeg Rifles - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canadian Forces Band Directory

MB: Other groups
Winnipeg New Horizons Band - - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Saskatachewan

SK: Community Concert Bands
Lumsden Community Adult Band (website broken Jan/2015) - Lumsden, Saskatchewan
Prince Albert Concert Band (facebook) - Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
Regina Lions Band - Regina, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Community Bands - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Concert Band - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon Lions Band - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The Band-Its - Regina, Saskatchewan

Defunct Bands:
Holy Cross Adult Community Bands - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - renamed the Saskatoon Community Bands sometime in 2006

SK: Community Orchestras
Saskatoon Youth Orchestra - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

SK: Brass Bands:
Saskatoon Brass Band - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

SK: Military and Regimental Bands

SK: Other groups

Alberta

AB: Community Concert Bands
Black Gold Community Band - Leduc, Alberta
Calgary Wind Symphony - Calgary, Ontario
Cappy Smart Band - Calgary, Alberta
Cochrane Music Society / Band on the Bow - Cochrane, Alberta
Comospolitan Music Society Band - Edmonton, Alberta
Festival City Winds - Edmonton, Alberta
Foothills Concert Band - Calgary, Alberta
Fort Saskatchewan Community Band - Fort Sasktachewan, Alberta
Lethbridge Community Band Society - Lethbridge, Alberta
New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia - Edmonton, Alberta
Red Deer Royals - Red Deer, Alberta
Rocky Mountain Concert Band - Calgary, Alberta
Sherwood-Like-To-Play Community Band - Calgary, Alberta
WestWinds Music Society - Calgary, Alberta

Defunct Bands:
Accidental Starts Concert Band - Calgary, Alberta - In 2002 became the Rocky Mountain Concert Band
Calgary Concert Band - renamed the Calgary Wind Symphony in 2012.
Chinook Concert Band - Calgary, Alberta - In 2002 became the Rocky Mountain Concert Band

AB: Community Orchestras
Calgary Civic Symphony - Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Community String Orchestra - Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra - Edmonton, Alberta
Nova Musica - Edmonton, Alberta

AB: Brass Bands
Altius Brass - Calgary, Alberta
Bridge Brass - Lethbridge, Alberta
Mill Creek Brass - Edmonton, Alberta
Mission Hill Brass - St. Pierre, Alberta

AB: Big Bands
River City Big Band - Edmonton, Alberta
The Oath - Calgary, Alberta
Southern Stardust - Calgary, Alberta

AB: Military and Regimental Bands
King's Own Calgary Regiment Band - Calgary, Alberta
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Band - Edmonton, Alberta

Canadian Forces Band Directory

AB: Other groups
None

British Columbia

BC: Community Concert Bands
Campbell River Community Band - Campbell River, British Columbia
Cascadia Wind Ensemble - Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack Community Band (1, 2 ) - Chilliwack, British Columbia
Comox Valley District Band - Comox Valley, British Columbia
Creston Community Band - Creston, British Columbia
Delta Concert Band - Ladner, British Columbia
Delta Music Makers - Ladner, British Columbia
Fraser Valley Community Winds (facebook) - Abbotsford, British Columbia
Greater Victoria Concert Band - Victoria, British Columbia
Kamloops Community Band - Kamloops, British Columbia
Kelowna City Band - Kelowna, British Columbia
Kitimat Community Band (no website, rsluyter[at]sno.net) - Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitsilano Boys Band - Vancouver, British Columbia
Maple Ridge Concert Band - Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Nanaimo Concert Band - Nanaimo, British Columbia
New Westminster and District Concert Band - New Westminster, British Columbia
Nicola Valley Community Band (no website, facebook carmenfairley-at-gmail-dot-com) - Merritt, British Columbia
North Vancouver Community Band - Vancouver, British Columbia
Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble - Vancouver, British Columbia
Penticton Concert Band - Penticton, British Columbia
Port Moody Community Band - (no website, facebook) - Port Moody, British Columbia
Powell River Community Band - Powell River, British Columbia
Prince George Community Band - Prince George, British Columbia
Prince Rupert Community Band - Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Rainbow Concert Band - Vancouver, British Columbia
Revelstoke Community Band - Revelstoke, British Columbia
Richmond Concert Band - Richmond, British Columbia
Royal City Concert Band - New Westminster, British Columbia
Sidney Concert Band - Sidney, British Columbia
Smithers Community Band (no website, 1, yahoo group) - Smithers, British Columbia
South Fraser Community Band - Surrey, British Columbia
SunCoast Concert Band (website down Jan/2015) - Roberts Creek, British Columbia
Terrace Community Band - Terrace, British Columbia
Vancouver Concert Band - Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver Youth Band - West Vancouver, British Columbia
West Vancouver Pops Band - Vancouver, British Columbia
Westshore Community Concert Band - Victoria, British Columbia
Whalley Legion Band(website down Jan/2015) - Surrey, British Columbia

Defunct Bands:
Abbotsford Concert Band - Abbotsford, British Columbia - renamed to the Raser Valley Community Winds around 2012.
West Point Grey Community Band - Vancouver, British Columbia - renamed the Vancouver Concert Band in October 2007

BC: Community Orchestras
A Little Light Music Orchestra - Vancouver, British Columbia
Brock House Orchestra - Vancouver, British Columbia
Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra (1) - Chilliwack, British Columbia
Civic Orchestra of Victoria - Victoria, British Columbia
Cowichan Consort Orchestra & Choir - Cowichan Bay, British Columbia
Fraser Valley Symphony (website down Oct 2006) - Fraser Valley, British Columbia
Hampton Concert Orchestra - Victoria, British Columbia
Nelson Community Band (no website, facebook) - Nelson, British Columbia
New Westminster Symphony Orchestra - New Westminster, British Columbia
Port Moody Community String Orchestra (no website, facebook) - Port Moody, British Columbia
Richmond Orchestra and Chorus - Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond Delta Youth Orchestra - Richmond, British Columbia
Sooke Philharmonic Society - Sooke, British Columbia
Strathcona Symphony Orchestra - Courtenay Bay, British Columbia
Summer Pops Youth Orchestra (no website, 1)- Vancouver, British Columbia
Sunshine Coast Community Orchestra Association (website down Jan/2015, facebook)- Roberts Creek, British Columbia
Trail Maple Leaf Concert Band - Trail, British Columbia
Vancouver Philharmonic Society - Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra - Vancouver, British Columbia
Victoria Chamber Orchestra - Victoria, British Columbia
White Rock Community Orchestra - White Rock, British Columbia

BC: Student Orchestras
Simon Fraser University: Student Concert Orchestra (facebook) - Vancouver, British Columbia

BC: Brass Bands:
Little Mountain Brass Band - Vancouver, British Columbia

BC: Military and Regimental Bands
5th (BC) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Band - Victoria, British Columbia
Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment - Vancouver, British Columbia
British Columbia Regiment Band - Vancouver, British Columbia

Canadian Forces Band Directory

BC: Big Bands
Commodores Big Band - Victoria, British Columbia
Kamloops Rube Band - Kamploops, British Columba

Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut

Community Concert Bands
All City Band - Whitehorse, Yukon

Community Orchestras
BAM Orchestra - Yellowknife, North West Territories

Military and Regimental Bands

Other groups

National Groups (Canada)

National: Community Concert Bands
National Youth Band of Canada

National: Community Orchestras
National Youth Orchestra of Canada

National: Military and Regimental Bands

National: Other groups

Other Lists of Bands/Orchestras

Ron Boerger's Community Band/Orchestra Lists

Community Band and Orchestra Home Pages - one of the most extensive lists on the web
Community Band and Orchestra Contact Info - considered to be The List - over 1000 groups listed

Canada Lists

KCB List of Other Community Bands - a list maintained by the Kirkland Community Band, Kirkland, Quebec
Canadian Band Association: Ontario Chapter - list of member bands
Anthony's Community Music Pages - focussing on the community music scene near Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Canadian Forces Band Directory
British Columbia Bands - from the BC Band Association

International Lists

Wind, Concert, Military and Marching Band Web Sites - a long list maintained by the IBEW (Internet Bandsman's Everything Within)
Gary Briault's Music Links
Heritage of Military Bands of the World (website down Jan/2015) - another extensive list of bands

Professional & Semi-Pro Concert Bands - Canada

Semi-Pro

Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra - Toronto, Ontario
Wellington Wind Symphony (formerly known as Wellington Winds) - Waterloo, Ontario

Professional & Semi-Pro Orchestras - Canada

I've included this category since once a community orchestra seems to get any good it goes pro. This category also covers orchestras that are pro and have always been pro groups.

Professional

Ontario:
Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Toronto, Ontario
National Arts Centre Orchestra - Ottawa, Ontario
New Brunswick:
Symphony New Brunswick - St. John, New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra - St. Johns, Newfoundland
Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra - Thunder Bay, Ontario

Semi-Pro

Ontario:
Brampton Symphony (website down Jan/2015) - Brampton, Ontario
Guelph Symphony Orchestra - Guelph, Ontario
Stratford Civic Orchestra - Stratford, Ontario
Sudbury Symphony Orchestra - Sudbury, Ontario
Waterloo Chamber Players - Waterloo, Ontario
KW Chamber Orchestra - Kitchener, Ontario

Miscellaneous

Some International Community Bands

Austin Symphonic Band - Austin, Texas, USA
Royal Marines Bands - England (U.K.)
Burlington Concert Band - Burlington, Vermont, USA
Carluke Primrose Prize Flute Band - Carluke, Scotland (U.K.)
Civico Corpo Musicale di Vimercate (website down Aug14/2011) - Vimercate (MI), Italy
The City of Fairfax Band - Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Fermanagh Concert Band - Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Hot Springs Community Band - Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA
Manawatu Concert Band - Manawatu, New Zealand

Some International Community Orchestras

Buffalo Community Orchestra - Buffalo, Minnesota, USA

Local Pro/Semi-Pro Groups - near Waterloo/Wellington, Ontario, Canada

Concert Bands
Wellington Winds - Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario
Orchestras:
Guelph Symphony Orchestra - Guelph, Ontario
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony - Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario
Stratford Civic Orchestra - Stratford, Ontario
Big Bands:
Festival City Big Band - Stratford, Ontario
Sophisticated Swing - Burlington, Ontario
Brass Bands / Ensembles:
True North Brass - Etobicoke, Ontario
Other:
Royal City Saxophone Quartet - Guelph, Ontario

Some Notable Symphonic Bands

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra - - Tokyo/Kosei, Japan - in Japanese and English
Gral Wind Orchestra - Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan - in Japanese
SAAR Wind Orchestra - Kleinblittersdorf, Germany - in German only
Oxford University Wind Orchestra - Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Eastman Wind Ensemble - Rochester, New York State, USA
Ridgewood Concert Band - Ridgewood, New Jersey, USA
Northshore Concert Band - Chicago, Illinois, USA
Peninsula Symphonic Band - Palo Alto, California, USA
San Jose Wind Symphony - San Jose, California, USA
Dallas Wind Symphony (professional band) - Dallas, Texas, USA
Austin Symphonic Band - Austin, Texas, USA
Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra - Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Some Notable Symphony Orchestras

Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal (English & French) - Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Musical Organizations/Associations

Canadian Amateur Musicians (CAMMAC)
MusicFest Canada
British Columbia Band Association
Atlantic Band Festival
International Military Music Society - Canadian Branch (website down Nov/2005)
World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles
Association of Concert Bands
John Philip Sousa Foundation
American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada
Music Performance Trust Funds

Brass Bands Association of New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand

Canadian Band Association
Canadian Band Association (Ontario branch)
Ontario Band Association
Alberta Band Association - Alberta, Canada
British Columbia Band Association - British Columbia
Saskatachewan Band Association - Saskatachewan, Canada
Manitoba Band Association - Manitoba, Canada
Federation des harmonies et des orchestres symphoniques du Quebec - Quebec, Canada
Quebec Band Association - Quebec, Canada
Nova Scotia Band Association - Nova Scotia, Canada

Misc. Community Band/Orchestra Links

International Music Camp - Dunseith, North Dakoda, USA (on the USA/Canada border)

Instrument Related Organizations/Resources

Woodwinds:
National Flute Association (USA)
World of Flutes (website down Nov/2005) - a very, very good site (120+ articles)
Larry Krantz Flute Pages - hard to navigate, but useful
Fluteworld [commercial site]
International Double Reed Society
www.Bassoon.org
International Clarinet Association
The Clarinet Pages & Klarinet List - www.sneezy.org
The Online Clarinet Resource (website down Nov/2005)
Clarinet Mentors - online clarinet instructional videos
Sherman Friedland's Corner - excellent articles
Michael Moore's Clarinet Page (website down Aug14/2011) - an "uber-cheesy" page but useful
WKA - World Clarinet Alliance
www.OrchestralClarinetist.com (website down Oct/2005)
The Clarinets
North American Saxophone Alliance
Classic Sax Online - The Adolf Sax Institute (website down Aug14/2011)
The International Saxophone Homepage
Contrabass Mania - an excellent site dedicated to really-low wind instruments
The Woodwind Fingering Guide

Brass:
International Trumpet Guild
Raw Brass - extensive trumpet resources
International Horn Society
The Horn Player's FAQ (no longer online, Aug 14/2011)
Hornplayer.net - home of the Horn e-mail list (with archives)
International Trombone Association
Online Trombone Journal
Trombone Page of the World (merged into Trombones Online, Oct/2006)
Douglas Yeo, Bass Trombone, Boston Symphony Orchestra - contains 350+ free articles on trombone
International Tuba/Euphonium Association - aka TUBA: Tubists Universal Brotherhood Association
Sean Chrisham's TubeNet - Tuba resources
Waldo's Tribute to the Tuba (website down, Aug 14/2011)

Strings:
Maestronet - has discussion boards - mostly a violin focus [commercial site]
The Viola Web Site - very extensive site
Internet Cello Society- very extensive site
Bob Gollihur's Double Bass Links Page - very extensive site
Amati list of violin and bow makers

Percussion:
Percussive Arts Society

Conductor & Wind Ensemble Resources

Band Chat (website down 2004, the server crashed with no backup and that was the end of it!) - online community & repertoire/program database
Internet Bandsman's Everything Within - huge online resource

Mark Heidel's Resources for Wind Band Conductors
Conductors Guild
Conductor School - conducting workshops by Wayne Toews

Band Composer/Arranger Related

Gustov Holst - a website by Kenric Taylor
Ralph Vaughn Williams - an extensive website
Percy Grainger - a website by the Percy Graiger Society
Kenneth Alford (website down 2005) - a website about the famous English composer
Alfred Reed (website down 2005)- photos (website down) - information about Alfred Reed
PDQ Bach (and Peter Schickele)

Band Music Distributors/Publishers

Eighth Note Publications
Harknett Musical Services Ltd - Markham, Ontario, Canada
Music Plus Corp. - Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
St. John's Music
DavArtMusic / David Arthur,br> Northdale Music Press Ltd
Rosewood Publications
Jeremy Irish Music
Comprint, Original Canadian Composition
Mark Hindsley Transcriptions

Sheet Music

BandMusicPDF - public domain sheet music for band
Creative Flute - 1000 free sheet music for flute (website down Jan/2015)
IMSLP / Petrucci Music Library - public domain sheet music, with over 85000 works

Web-Based Tools for Bands

Band Pencil - online organization management tool for community bands
Muzodo - web-based scheduling software for community bands

Miscellaneous Resources

The Community Music E-mail List - mailing list for concert band musicians

Online Music Streaming

Wind Band FM (a subsidiary of SLT Radio) - a "Live 365" online streaming music station

Recordings

eConcertband.com (website gone in Aug/2015...too bad) - a online tool for locating recordings of concert band music

Clarinet Specialists - Canada

Taplin Weir Canada (John Weir) - Toronto, Ontario Steve Fox Clarinets (Steve Fox) - Toronto, Ontario - (905) 737-7263
The Clarinet Centre (Peter Spriggs) - Penticton, British Columbia, (250) 497-8200
Michael Shermann - Toronto, Ontario - (416) 398-5454
Gary Armstrong Woodwinds (Gary Armstrong) - Toronto, Ontario - (800) 356-4025

Miscellaneous / Humour

Musical Instrument Jokes
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Amusements - a snapshot of their old website as it was in Jan 2000
OXymoron Humour Archive: Music
A Band That Money Couldn't Buy
Bitcheril(tm) (di-tetraethyl-primadonna-bitchenhydrazine sulfate USP)
An In Depth Appraisal of Orchestral Sections
Hosaphone Headquarters
The Constant Clarinet - a miscellany of references to the clarinet

Updates / Adding your Group

The links on this page were last verified/checked on January 10, 2015

Note: I am planning on doing some housecleaning in the new few months. When I get around to doing that a the old broken links (that have been marked as such) will be removed. I will also be trimming away links that are not part of the central focus of this page, which is a listing of Canadian community orchestra/bands.

Want a link to your Community Band/Orchestra added?
If you would like to see your community band and/or orchestra listed on this page, please just drop me an note and I'll do my best to add it.

Administrivia

Why this List?
Having a website is essential for a community music group to succeed in this day and age. A website enables a group to easily promote itself, attract new members, advertise concerts, attract sponsors and generally grow. My hope is that this list will encourage all Canadian community bands and orchestras to invest in establishing and maintaining websites.

A secondary goal is to act as a resource for Canadian amateur musicians, who play band and/or orchestral instruments, to find places to play.

If you are looking for more detailed contact information for a specific community band or orchestra (i.e., their website lacks information, or is not listed here), please have a look at Ron Boerger's community band and orchestra contact info list - his focus is more on contact information rather than just websites; he also lists community bands and orchestras from all over the world.

How do I establish a website for my group?
Putting together a website for your group is not as much work as you think. In a nutshell, you need 4 things: (a) a website address (e.g. www.YourGroupName.org), (b) a place to host it (a web hosting account), (c) someone to create the website, and (d) someone to update it over time. If you do a google search, you can find various information/tutorials on how to do this. Make sure to check out WordPress it is very nice platform to use for building a website that can be easily updated/maintained.

If are looking for some help, feel free to contact me. Depending on how busy I am, I still occasionally build band websites in exchange for a small fee to cover my time.

About this Page:
I have been maintaining and adding to this list since 1998. At the time I found it extremely difficult to get information about community bands and orchestras near where I lived. I decided to do seomthing about it so I started this list. Over time the list has grown, and has become a pet project of mine. I still enjoy updating it from time to time. All the best in finding a community music group to get involved with.

Copying & Copyright
Please do not use the the data on this page to make your own lists. Instead of making your own derivative lists, it is a lot more effective to just direct people to my page. If you find an error, please let me know so I can correct it. Collecting and keeping the data on this page is a lot of work for me and I take no small measure of pride doing so. I ask that you please respect this. On the otherhand, if you are a printing a directory of bands, please contact me - I would be happy to contribute some content to it in exhange for a proper acknowledgement.

This page and its contents are copyright © Graham Nasby 1998-2023. All rights reserved.

With that said, if you want to use some data from my list just ask! Just drop me an e-mail and I'll do my best to accomodate your request as much as possible.