Telephone City Musical Society strikes a chord in Paris

The 44-member Telephone City Musical Society poses following one of its performances at the County of Brant's Music in the Park series this summer. The community band has found a welcoming home in Paris after partnering with the County three years ago.

Emma Bowman

Paris Independent Contributor

From Big Band music like Glenn Miller, to ABBA and modern hits, The Telephone City Musical Society (TCMS) has spent the month of June performing as part of Brant County’s Music in the Park series. Located at the Paris Lion’s Park amphitheater every Tuesday evening, the 44 members performed a wide range of music for attendees, people passing by, and anyone enjoying the park amenities.

Music in the Park is a free outdoor concert series that displays regional and local artists, as well as touring acts. As music spills through the park and the nearby playground, attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets to relax and enjoy the serenade of music in rain or shine.

Founded 106 years ago by First World War veterans seeking a place to reconnect and make music, the TCMS once again found itself searching for a rehearsal space three years ago. After reaching out to the County of Brant, the group was welcome to use the park for practices while its regular venue was occupied by Brantford Village. Mike Croucher, TCMS president, says “after playing once and seeing the public reaction, we had a different idea [than years prior]. Going into this year, we wanted it to be actual performances that the local community could come and enjoy.”

As the County of Brant continues to find new ways to bring people together during the ongoing Downtown Dig construction, the Music in the Park series has emerged as one of those opportunities. Chelsie Sharp, the County's Special Events and Filming Coordinator with Strategic Initiatives, said the response from residents has been overwhelmingly positive.

"It's exactly the type of community connection we hope to foster through these programs," she said. “Our goal with Music in the Park is to create welcoming, accessible experiences that celebrate local culture, support artists, and provide opportunities for residents and visitors to connect in our beautiful community spaces.”

The TCMS’s last performance was on June 30th. Reflecting on the experience, Croucher said, “We are so thrilled and thankful for the County and the Staff that have helped us make this a reality. We are already looking forward to next year's performances.”

Bianka Kruchat, a County of Brant ‘Downtown Dig and Tourism Ambassador’, claims that there is more to look forward to Downtown this summer. Throughout July and August, there will be more artists performing in the park, alongside other family and community events. The next upcoming performance will be featuring Avery Raquel, a Toronto based Artist, on Thursday, July 16th at 6pm. 

There’s also a family-focused evening on July 2nd, hosted as part of the Canada Day celebrations and will include a wide range of activities including a performance by JUNO Award-nominated children's performer Chris McKhool, crafts, story time from County of Brant Public Library staff, and a Disney DJ Pyjama Party.