The New Hamburg Concert Band celebrates 130 years of music

The members of the New Hamburg Concert Band in 2024. Contributed photo

By Julia Paul

The New Hamburg Concert Band is celebrating it’s 130^th anniversary this year.

Formed in 1894, the band has been known by many names. From the New Hamburg Community Band to the New Hamburg Citizens Band to the amalgamation of the Tavistock band to its current name, the New Hamburg Concert Band.

“When I found out it was 130,” said Colleen Grant-Kau, president of the New Hamburg Concert Band, “I thought, ‘Well, we need to do something.’ It's still a marker and it's important. After the pandemic, (we’re) trying to ramp things up again because everything was shut down for so long, we thought 130 was important to get it out there.”

Open to players of all ages and skill levels, registration is easily available on their website.

“A lot of people say, ‘Oh I haven’t touched an instrument since high school. I didn’t know there was a place to play after highschool,’ ” said Grant-Kau. “And there are. And there’s other bands too. Community bands are still alive and well. New Hamburg is the oldest one that I know of. Ayr has been around since the ‘50s but New Hamburg being 1894, that’s 130 years this year.”

The New Hamburg Concert Band can be seen around New Hamburg, Tavistock, Baden and even Plattsville, getting around to local community events to bring the joy of music.

“They just try to keep music alive in the community,” said Grant-Kau. “We, for the most part, are there for Tree of Light, all of the community things. Canada Day, the Santa Claus Parade; they just try to be out there all the time.

“We have the bandstand by the river. We try to do practices outside in the spring just so that people hear us, see us and realize that community bands are still around.”

Gearing up for the Remembrance Day commemoration on Monday, they will be marching with the parade and then performing the service in the arena.

 “The comradery of it is huge,” said Grant-Kau. “It's a fun place to be, there aren’t auditions, you can be any level, it’s multi-generational, we have some people who have moved as far as Port Dover and they still come back to the practices in New Hamburg for those reasons. It's a fun place to be there, with music and likeminded people, and there’s no pressure, which is nice.”

It’s important for the continuity and the survival of the band to continue drawing in younger players. A benefit for high-school players joining the band is the hours go towards their mandatory volunteer hours.

 “We want to be seen. We want to be known. We want young people to not quit after high school and join us and keep it going because we’ve got a lot of people who are aging out and can't play anymore, and we don't want the band to end. We want to get back out in the community as much as we can.”

 If interested in joining the band, check out the New Hamburg Concert Band’s website at newhamburgconcertband.ca.