Author: Bob Kanygin

Hi everyone,
Thank you again for another wonderful rehearsal! This week’s rehearsal will go as follows:
* Choral warm up * Lyric Essay * Themes from an Outdoor Overture * Lion King * The Hounds of Spring * New piece * New piece
I’m hoping to have two new pieces given out during the rehearsal, and if so, those will be played near the end. If there is time, we will also play Holst.
See you all on Tuesday!
Holly

Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for such a warm and welcoming first full rehearsal together. We had a great time playing some fun pieces last week, and there will be more music coming in the weeks ahead!
It was requested that I share some tentative concert dates so you can check availability and begin marking your calendars. The following dates are possibilities we are currently considering, but are not confirmed:
– March 22 – Joint concert with Chester Brass at the Bella Rose Theatre
– Tuesday after March Break – Joint concert with the high school
– Early May (Tuesday evening) – Kiwanis concert
– Spring Final Concert – First or second Tuesday in June
As a reminder, if you have repertoire requests, I am always happy to hear them and add them to our rep list. If you have concert ideas or creative performance suggestions, please feel free to bring those forward as well – I value collaboration and appreciate hearing ideas and perspectives from the group!
If you need to reach me, you can do so at my personal email: holly.leader@outlook.com
Thanks again, everyone—I’m really looking forward to this season. See you Tuesday night!
Warmly,
Holly Leader

Hello everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! This is just a friendly reminder that our first rehearsal of the season will take place this coming Tuesday, January 6th.
I’m very much looking forward to sharing some beautiful music with you and getting to know you all as we begin the 2026 season together.
Thank you so much!
Holly

Hi folks,
Just wanting to send this group shot along to all of you from our October photo shoot and also to wish you a safe and happy Holiday Season and all the best in the New Year. See you in 2026.
Dave

Dear Halifax Concert Band Members
Thank you very much for your thoughtful gift of the beautiful mug.
I will think of you and your music whenever I use it.
That was very kind of you and I appreciate it.
I look forward to hearing more of your music soon.
I wish you well for a smooth ending to 2025 and peace and good health in the new year.
Take care. Alison PS. Dave loves his travel mug too!

Hi all,
Thanks so much to everyone for such a great concert on Tuesday night! I’m very glad that the weather cooperated (for the most part) to allow good attendance both in the band and for the audience. Jane and Gerry, we certainly missed you!
I was very happy with the musical results of all of our repertoire and it seemed that any of those rough patches were smoothed over by the time of the performance and I applaud you for that extra effort. I was also really pleased with the physical set-up on Tuesday night. I could hear all sections of the band very well , and I believe that the sight lines were much better too. I know that it was hard to see me on the podium from the drum set though, but you made it work, Mike and George! Awesome!
I also really appreciated the kind words from Becky on everyone’s behalf to thank me for my direction and conducting over the last 10 years. It really has been an honour and a privilege to have worked with all of you season after season and It has given me the gift of your friendship, and that cup is overflowing! Also, I have been able to rehearse and conduct many band pieces over the years that would have been out of reach for me in my own school programs back in the day. You all bring that level of skill to the group, and with such musicality, and I am very proud of that! Thank you❤️
A few tidbits… Daniel, we all love the English Horn! More please!…. Holly and Fiona, we are in exceptionally good hands moving forward and I look forward to lots of great band music in our future. Thank you!!…oh, and nice horse whinny, Holly! …..A special thank you to Whirl Winds and to Patricia Madden and Alison Roe-Smith for your prelude music…such fine and in-tune playing and great repertoire! You were a hit!!….and to all, you all looked marvelous and sounded even better! Bravo!!!…Bravissimo!!!!!
Now, I look forward to moving to the back row with my low brass buddies! I will be traveling a fair amount from now until the end of the summer so I won’t be able to attend all rehearsals and concerts but I am still very much a member of this great group!
I hope to see you all at the Christmas dinner on Tuesday night and look forward to celebrating the season with you.
Take care and have a safe and happy holiday time!
Dave