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HCB Year-end Zoom Party Tue Jun 9

You are invited to the Halifax Concert Band year-end Zoom party (BYOB)
Topic: HCB Zoom Party Time: Tuesday June 9, 6:30 pm
Join us for a toast to community band music and for a chance to see members of the band. Just click the link below a bit before 6:30 pm on June 9
us02web.zoom.us/j/85803001090?pwd=c0JjZHp2NFlSOVZnblB4VWJkS20xUT09
Meeting ID: 858 0300 1090 Password: 710509
The link has the password embedded in it. You will be placed in a ‘waiting room’ when you click the link. I will welcome you into the meeting.
This can be done on a computer, tablet, or smart-phone. It uses your built-in camera and microphone, which needs to be turned on (in settings). You can test your camera and audio while waiting.
Hope to see you there. Bob

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HCB Message from Dave Staples

Hi all,
First of all, I would like to say a great big hello to the entire Halifax Concert Band family and to express my hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. My family and I are all fine and we have all been hunkered down like everyone else.
I have managed to get to a number of long overdue music projects in my home studio in the past few weeks which feels rewarding and now some outside gardening work and hopes of maybe even a golf game or two in the near future is very encouraging.
A lot has happened in the time since we were able to all be together and the events of the last two months have challenged us all to cope with some unfathomably difficult circumstances and events. In our own community band and music-making world, we are feeling the loss of being able to connect in a tangible way to create music together and to have those personal interactions that our HCB “club” has always enjoyed. I’m sure it will come back but as to how and when, it’s anyone’s guess.
Within our own region, there have been some interesting initiatives to liaison with community and school band organizations to see what various groups are doing to connect and educate in alternative and creative ways. Chris Ward of the Seconds Chances Community Band Program of Nova Scotia recently organized a Zoom meeting with directors and conductors of a number of organizations from Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and both John Underhill and myself attended that video meeting last Saturday with over 40 participants.
As part of this ongoing sharing of ideas and initiatives, the Nova Scotia Band Association has created a contest called “I Love Band”. Please see the following outline of the contest and I would be super happy if any of you would care to send in a little video clip of your reasons for LOVING BAND!
Take care, stay safe and and stay tuned!
All my best! Dave
Contest from Nova Scotia Band Association
Do you know someone right now in your music program or community band that loves band and could be a great spokesperson? Do you have other great supporters in your community, like band parents/grandparents? Administrators? Community & professional musicians who support what you do? We want you to invite you and your band boosters to record a 30-45 second clip telling us why they love band so much. The clip can be funny, factual, or simply heartfelt.
The NSBA will host the best of these clips at our website. You can then send current and prospective band members to look at and listen to some of the many many reasons why being in the band is such a meaningful activity in Nova Scotia. The success of this effort is dependent on us receiving MANYsubmissions quickly. Please reach out TODAY to invite your strongest supporters to share their passion for band programs with our band community.
Did we mention that Long and McQuade will be donating some MUSICAL PRIZES? Thanks to the support of Long & McQuade, we have prizes for student entries, adult entries as well as a BONUS prize that will be awarded to one lucky school or community band..
Contest Entries close at 11:59 pm on Friday May 29, 2020
For more information on the contest contact: Hope Gendron at: nsband@eastlink.ca
To formally enter / register and submit your video click on the link below:
“I LOVE BAND” novascotiabandassociation.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bf410468e37fd59a937d6684d&id=d09ed9df30&e=dfd7cd7c3e
We all know how great band is… Now we have a chance to share our enthusiasm with potential band members, friends and relatives in a new way. Be creative, have fun … and encourage others to participate.
GO BAND!
NSBA Executive

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HCB Message from John Underhill

Hello my fellow music lovers,
I hope you and your families are all doing well, given all that has been happening over the past few weeks.
A few weeks ago, I advised that HCB rehearsals had been cancelled for the remainder of April as a result of the ongoing state of emergency and closure of public schools. As you may know, on Tuesday the Province of Nova Scotia announced the extension of both the state of emergency and the school closure. As a result, we will not have access to the Bella Rose before May 19, 2020, at the earliest, and large groups (such as our band) are still prohibited from gathering.
I am sorry to advise that yesterday the HCB Board, in consultation with our Musical Director, Dave Staples, made the very painful decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 HCB season.
Members will receive a $55 credit towards membership dues in September 2020, or, upon request, a $55 refund. Our librarian, Debbie McGuire, asks that you keep all of your music, including the Irish folders and “Funny” Books.
Should any member be planning not to return in September, please contact Debbie at librarian@halifaxconcertband.ca to make secure arrangements to return your music. You may also request a $55 refund of 2019-20 membership dues by contacting our Membership Chair, Bob Kanygin, at membership@halifaxconcertband.ca
Like many of you, I have missed both the musical and social aspects of our weekly rehearsals. It has been our custom for many years to close our season with a social function, and we will make every effort to arrange something in June 2020, should conditions then permit, or early September. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible when we resume rehearsals, hopefully on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. Until then, have a safe Spring, and happy practicing!
Yours in harmony and hope,
John Underhill President Halifax Concert Band Society www.halifaxconcertband.ca

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HCB Message from John Underhill

Hello my fellow HCB musicians,
I hope all of you are getting by as best you can given the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated government response.
In mid-March, the Nova Scotia government announced the closure of all public schools, and on March 16, I wrote to you advising that the remaining March HCB rehearsals were being cancelled as a result.
The public school closure was recently extended until at least May 1, 2020. Our Musical Director, Dave Staples, has advised that the Kiwanis Music Festival has been cancelled for this year, and he confirms we will not have access to the Bella Rose or to Halifax West High School before May 1, if at all.
I have consulted with Dave and my fellow members of the HCB Society Board. In view of the ongoing state of emergency and associated restrictions on public gatherings, I regret to advise you that HCB rehearsals for the remainder of April 2020 have been cancelled. Although no final decision has yet been made about the remainder of the 2019-20 HCB season, a number of options are being considered, and the Board plans to meet again before the end of April, following which you can expect a decision to be announced.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through these very challenging times together.
Yours in harmony and hope,
John
John Underhill President Halifax Concert Band Society www.halifaxconcertband.ca