MANITOBA COMMUNITY BANDS
Community bands have been a part of Manitoba's heritage for more than a century. The MBA sponsors two community band festivals - an annual event in June at The Forks and an April festival in Pinawa every odd year.
The 2019 Community Band workshop included musicians from Winnipeg, Holland, Morden, Selkirk, Virginia (MN), Thompson, St. Alphonse, Manitou, Altamont, Winkler, Rosebank, Miami, & Roland. 58 musicians from across Manitoba and Minnesota came for a day long reading workshop and evening concert, directed by Bernard Helfter. Representing members from Assiniboia Concert Band (Winnipeg), Branch 252 Veterans Concert Band (Winnipeg), Friday Morning Concert Band (Winnipeg), German Club Band (Winnipeg), Manitoba Millennium Band (Winnipeg), New Horizons Community Band (Winnipeg), Northwinds Community Band (Winnipeg), Prairie Red Coats Band, Rupertsland Brass Band (Winnipeg), Thompson Community Band (Thompson), and Westwood Community Band (Winnipeg)
Bands:
Traditionally, opportunities are available throughout the province for all who play brass, woodwind or percussion instruments. Although Covid-19 has currently paused Community Band music making, the MBA looks forward to a time when we can once again promote and support these programs.
Festivals:
The 2019 Pinawa Community Band Festival took place on April 14th, 2019. Bands included; Assiniboia, Eastman, Northwinds, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Westwood, and a massed band lead by Robert Hall. This festival typically takes place every other year, but unfortunately the 2021 Festival is unable to take place due to Covid-19.
The 2020 Forks Community Band Festival was scheduled for May 30 & 31 at the Forks Market under the canopy, but had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. We look forward to resuming this event as soon as we are able to safely do so.
Bob Day Memorial Award
At the annual Community Band Workshop, a yearly award is presented in memory of the late Bob Day, a dedicated community band member who had great musical spirit and a deep commitment to community bands. This award is given to someone who displays the qualities of dedication, commitment and musical spirit.
Past recipients of the Bob Day Memorial Community Band Member Award (BDMCBMA).
1998, Dayna Nickel of Winnipeg
1999, Mike Slater of Winnipeg
2000, Val Pearson of Winnipeg
2001, Bernard Helfter of Holland
2002, Bob Corbett of Winnipeg
2003, Tony Purvis of Winnipeg
2004, Jon Publow of Winnipeg
2005, Harold Aiken of Dauphin
2006, Harvey Winks of Winnipeg
2007, Annette Verniest of Holland
(We shifted the Community Band Workshop from Nov. to March in 2009, resulting in a "leap" year!)
2009, Peter Hayward of Pinawa
2010, Barry Shaw of Winnipeg
2011, Carole Helfter of Holland
2012, Vicki Adams of Somerset
2013, Brian Duncan of Rosebank
2014, Bruce Childs of Dauphin
2015, Christina Paul of Winnipeg
2016, David Patrick of Winnipeg
2017, Cam Marsland of Selkirk
2018, Derrick Wainio of Morden
