The Dundas Concert Band held their annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 17th at St. Paul’s United Church in Dundas. We would like to thank our wonderful audience for coming out to this event. Your generous donations will be used for new music and for general expenses of the band. The weather outside was gloomy, but inside was filled with great holiday music. The audience participation in our carol sing was delightful.
Did you miss the concert? Had too many holiday commitments? Well, the good news is that we will be having a Spring Concert on Sunday, April 7th at 3:00 pm. Mark your calendars today!
Here are a couple of pictures of the Christmas Concert. The first is a warm-up by the band, and the second is during the performance. We hope to post additional pictures soon.
Dec. 17, 2023
Christmas concert warm-upChristmas concert from the Balcony
Once again, the Dundas Concert Band played holiday tunes at the Christmas Tree Lighting on Nov. 24th. The crowds were terrific. So many people came out to watch the lighting of this beautiful tree.
December 17th is quickly approaching! That’s when the Dundas Concert Band will be performing at St. Paul’s United Church in Dundas. The music starts at 3:00 p.m. Get into the holiday spirit, or just take a break from the hustle and bustle, and relax while listening to some great music. Hope to see you there!
We are grateful to the Turner Family Funeral Home for sponsoring this concert.
The Dundas Concert Band began practicing on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 at the Dundas Town Hall, from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. We practice each Tuesday evening. We are looking specifically for clarinet, bassoon and percussion players, but players of other instruments are welcome to come out. If interested in attending, please drop us a line at info@dundasconcertband.com so we know you are coming. Hope to see you there!
We have played all of our summer concerts in the park on the scheduled dates, and are now finished. We would like to thank you for attending our concerts, and for your generous donations to the band. This will allow us to purchase new music, and pay our ongoing expenses.
This year, during our summer concert series, we had special guests, including the Dundas Pipes and Drums, the Dundas Concert Band Brass Quintet, and Leo Johnson and his djembe drummers. We also had a special Family concert, with activities for the children. Did you enjoy the guest musicians? Would you like to see more next year? Maybe you have suggestions for a special guest? Let us know. E-mail us at info@dundasconcertband.com.
Leo Johnson and Mike Rajczak and their djembe drummers really kept the audience toe-tapping at the July 25th concert. A great introduction to West African drumming for many!
Concert in the Park series runs Tuesdays July 4 to 25 and Aug. 1
By Dundas Star News
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Photo of Dundas Concert Band October 25, 2022 by Lawrence Yanover
Dundas Concert Band celebrates its 175th anniversary year with the first of five Concert in the Park performances July 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Dundas Driving Park.
Performances continue each Tuesday, weather permitting, on July 11, 18 and 25, and Aug. 1, continuing a tradition of concerts in the park going back to 1958.
In 1848 the band was known as the Dundas Citizens’ Band and the current name was adopted in 1923. The July 4 Concert in the Park summer series opener will recognize the band’s 175 years.
Musical Director William Rolfe took on the task of selecting arrangements representing Dundas Concert Band’s history, legacy and diversity of musical genres. Rolfe assembled a summer series including pieces from the earliest days of the band and its association with local military regiments.
Many early members of the Dundas Citizens Band also played in The Wentworth Regiment, formed in Dundas in 1872. It was originally the 77th Wentworth Battalion and Infantry. This year’s summer series celebrates that connection.
Featured is Pentland Hills, a march medley of traditional Scottish Airs such as “The Lass O’ Gowrie,” “John Anderson,” “My Jo’ ” and “The Rowan Tree.” “The Lass O’ Gowrie” was the Regimental March of the Wentworth Regiment.
Also included are medleys of familiar works by Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
The Dundas Concert Band looks forward to the Dundas Pipes and Drums joining them at the July 11 concert.
At the July 25 concert the band’s guests will be Leo Johnson West African Djembe Drummers. Johnson has, for many years, been teaching authentic African call/answer, and songs specific to Liberia on djembe drums.
Dundas Concert Band drummer Chris Wilson gets an opportunity to play his conga drums in an interesting arrangement by Naohiro Iwai called “Jungle Fantasy.” Wilson also plays his congas in “Encanto” which was just purchased by the band as a special feature for this concert season.
“Encanto” was released by Disney in 2021 and tells the story of a family living in Columbia, with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. This collection includes “The Family Madrigal,” “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure.” This Disney medley concludes with “Waiting On A Miracle.”
There is music from several other Disney movies presented in a blockbuster arrangement called “Disney At The Movies.” The band will perform highlights from Disney’s animated musical drama version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Typically, DCB presents several medleys from movies and Broadway. This summer series is no different. Selections this summer include “Star Trek Into Darkness,” “Cats,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Doors on Tour” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
Younger members of the audience will enjoy medleys from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “The Incredibles” and for the video gamers in the crowd there is music from “Cuphead.”
The final concert is a family-oriented presentation sponsored by the Greensville Optimists on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Rain date is Aug. 8. Arrive by 7 p.m. and “Meet our Instruments.” You will get a chance to see, and hear, up close instruments band members play. Bring crayons and pencils for a family-friendly activity to help you listen for different sounds during the concert.
The band looks forward to the return of faithful audience regulars, but also hopes to see new faces in the crowd for the presentations in the Dundas Driving Park.
