History
The Greater Victoria Concert Band was originally formed in 1964. Sponsored by
the Victoria City Police Athletic Association, the band was called the
Victoria City Police Boys' Band. The band members were provided with new police
style uniforms to play in concerts and march in parades.
The first transformation of the band came in the late 1960's. After a few years,
the band experienced some recruiting limitations and it was decided that girls
should be allowed to join. The band then became known as the Victoria City
Police Youth Band.
Over the next decade and following a significant turnover in membership, a
decision was made to permit adults to join thus changing the name yet again to
the Greater Victoria Police Community Band. As the band no longer fit the
"youth" criteria of the Victoria City Police Athletic Association, their
sponsorship was withdrawn and the band thus became in 1978 as the Greater
Victoria Concert Band.
Senior Band Conductor: Michael Keddy
Michael Keddy is the Music Director of the University of Victoria Don Wright Symphonic Winds and the Assistant Conductor of the University of Victoria Wind Symphony. He teaches Music Education and Post-Degree Professional Program courses at the University of Victoria where he is a PhD candidate in Educational Studies (Music Education/Conducting) under the supervision of Dr. Gerald King. Prior to completing a Master's Degree in Performance (Wind Conducting) with Dr. Dale Lonis at the University of Manitoba, he was Head of Performing Arts at Parry Sound High School in Parry Sound, Ontario. Ensembles under his direction have consistently been adjudicated among the highest in the country, and internationally, with numerous awards in both the Jazz and Concert Band genres.
Mr. Keddy completed the Graduate Diploma in Conducting from the University of Calgary, conducted and performed in Europe as Associate Conductor (Concert Band) and Music Director (Jazz Band) of the Ontario Youth Concert Band, and has also held the responsibility of Music Director and Music Education Clinician for the Senior Band component at Camp Musical d'Asbestos in Asbestos, Quebec. He has adjudicated and provided numerous music education and percussion clinics at many festivals and venues throughout Canada.
As a percussionist, Mr. Keddy has taught as a member of the faculty at the University of Manitoba and performed in a variety of venues, from solo performer at Buckingham Palace to Symphony Orchestras to World Champion Drum and Bugle Corps'.
Intermediate Band Conductor: David Suomi Marttinen
David is a musician, conductor and educator. As a musician, he studied the
guitar, clarinet and piano. He has performed in many community theatre
orchestras and wind ensembles. During his time earning a Bachelor of Music
degree from Western Washington University, he studied conducting and went
on to develop his skills from the Calgary University Diploma Conducting program.
David's achievements in Calgary led him to conducting scholarships from the New
England Conservatory of Music where he earned his Master of Music degree and
an opportunity to be a finalist at the Canada Council for the Arts in Conducting.
As a conductor and educator, David has instructed instrumental music programs
in public and private high schools as well as community bands and orchestras
in both Canada and the United States. He has served in the Canadian Naval
Reserves, Lieutenant (N), as Director of Music for HMCS Discovery and Associate
Director of Music for the National Band of the Naval Reserves.
David is presently the Associate Director of Bands at Glenlyon-Norfolk
Middle-High School.
Junior Band Conductor: Byron Bush
Byron's music education began at grade 6 as a clarinet player under the
direction of Rick Underwood, who would later be his music teacher at Esquimalt
High school, and is current conductor of the Senior band. At Esquimalt, Byron
continued his music education on trombone, working in both the Classical and
Jazz programs.
Byron would continue his musical studies at the University of Victoria in the
Music Education program. As a trombone player he would study with Brad Howland,
Eugene Dowling, Ian Mcdougall and Hugh Fraser. There Byron also studied
conducting with Dr. Gerry King and Yariv Aloni.
Upon graduating university, Byron would spend a year teaching music in both the
private and public system in Powell River. There Byron also had the opportunity
to sing in a choir and tour with Order of Canada recipient Don James.
In 2007, Byron returned to Victoria and in October began as the Conductor for
the Junior Band. During the 2007-08 school year Byron worked as the music
director for Saltspring Island Middle School, as well as a music specialist
in the Victoria school district.
Byron feels that the Greater Victoria Concert Band creates a unique opportunity
for adults who would have missed out on the amazing music experience in school,
to 'get back on board' and give it a try.
Byron is currently a teacher in Victoria, working primarily as a String Teacher.
Novice Band Conductor: Yvonne Norris
Yvonne learned to play piano at a young age and picked up the flute in junior high in Edmonton. She continued to play in her school band, and then played sporadically over the years until she arrived in Victoria in the early 1990s. In 1994 Yvonne was presented with the wonderful opportunity to assist Sheri Robertson in her music room at Royal Oak Middle School and held this position until 2009. During that time, Yvonne also assisted at North Saanich Middle School for 6 years. These positions allowed her the opportunity to gain a good fundamental knowledge of playing wind and brass instruments, as well as basic repair skills. Yvonne also had the opportunity to conduct, teach theory, and work one-on-one with students. As such, she is able to provide beginner players with solid basic skills for their instrument.
Yvonne loves to impart her love of music to those around her who show an interest in picking up an old or new instrument. She enjoys challenging the Novice group members by teaching them basic music theory, how to read music, how to hold and play new instruments, and how to follow a director. Yvonne is thrilled to be helping people from so many different walks of life - she has taught people from ages 19 to 83! She continues to teach lessons privately (piano, guitar, saxophone) and looks forward to a continued relationship with new and old students at the GVCB.
Share Your Story!
Since the GVCB started, we have had hundreds (if not thousands) of members.
If you have a story about the GVCB you want to share, please tell it to us.
History
The Greater Victoria Concert Band was originally formed in 1964. Sponsored by the Victoria City Police Athletic Association, the band was called the Victoria City Police Boys' Band. The band members were provided with new police style uniforms to play in concerts and march in parades.
The first transformation of the band came in the late 1960's. After a few years, the band experienced some recruiting limitations and it was decided that girls should be allowed to join. The band then became known as the Victoria City Police Youth Band.
Over the next decade and following a significant turnover in membership, a decision was made to permit adults to join thus changing the name yet again to the Greater Victoria Police Community Band. As the band no longer fit the "youth" criteria of the Victoria City Police Athletic Association, their sponsorship was withdrawn and the band thus became in 1978 as the Greater Victoria Concert Band.
Senior Band Conductor: Michael Keddy
Michael Keddy is the Music Director of the University of Victoria Don Wright Symphonic Winds and the Assistant Conductor of the University of Victoria Wind Symphony. He teaches Music Education and Post-Degree Professional Program courses at the University of Victoria where he is a PhD candidate in Educational Studies (Music Education/Conducting) under the supervision of Dr. Gerald King. Prior to completing a Master's Degree in Performance (Wind Conducting) with Dr. Dale Lonis at the University of Manitoba, he was Head of Performing Arts at Parry Sound High School in Parry Sound, Ontario. Ensembles under his direction have consistently been adjudicated among the highest in the country, and internationally, with numerous awards in both the Jazz and Concert Band genres.
Mr. Keddy completed the Graduate Diploma in Conducting from the University of Calgary, conducted and performed in Europe as Associate Conductor (Concert Band) and Music Director (Jazz Band) of the Ontario Youth Concert Band, and has also held the responsibility of Music Director and Music Education Clinician for the Senior Band component at Camp Musical d'Asbestos in Asbestos, Quebec. He has adjudicated and provided numerous music education and percussion clinics at many festivals and venues throughout Canada.
As a percussionist, Mr. Keddy has taught as a member of the faculty at the University of Manitoba and performed in a variety of venues, from solo performer at Buckingham Palace to Symphony Orchestras to World Champion Drum and Bugle Corps'.
Intermediate Band Conductor: David Suomi Marttinen
David is a musician, conductor and educator. As a musician, he studied the guitar, clarinet and piano. He has performed in many community theatre orchestras and wind ensembles. During his time earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Washington University, he studied conducting and went on to develop his skills from the Calgary University Diploma Conducting program. David's achievements in Calgary led him to conducting scholarships from the New England Conservatory of Music where he earned his Master of Music degree and an opportunity to be a finalist at the Canada Council for the Arts in Conducting. As a conductor and educator, David has instructed instrumental music programs in public and private high schools as well as community bands and orchestras in both Canada and the United States. He has served in the Canadian Naval Reserves, Lieutenant (N), as Director of Music for HMCS Discovery and Associate Director of Music for the National Band of the Naval Reserves.
David is presently the Associate Director of Bands at Glenlyon-Norfolk Middle-High School.
Junior Band Conductor: Byron Bush
Byron's music education began at grade 6 as a clarinet player under the direction of Rick Underwood, who would later be his music teacher at Esquimalt High school, and is current conductor of the Senior band. At Esquimalt, Byron continued his music education on trombone, working in both the Classical and Jazz programs.
Byron would continue his musical studies at the University of Victoria in the Music Education program. As a trombone player he would study with Brad Howland, Eugene Dowling, Ian Mcdougall and Hugh Fraser. There Byron also studied conducting with Dr. Gerry King and Yariv Aloni.
Upon graduating university, Byron would spend a year teaching music in both the private and public system in Powell River. There Byron also had the opportunity to sing in a choir and tour with Order of Canada recipient Don James. In 2007, Byron returned to Victoria and in October began as the Conductor for the Junior Band. During the 2007-08 school year Byron worked as the music director for Saltspring Island Middle School, as well as a music specialist in the Victoria school district.
Byron feels that the Greater Victoria Concert Band creates a unique opportunity for adults who would have missed out on the amazing music experience in school, to 'get back on board' and give it a try.
Byron is currently a teacher in Victoria, working primarily as a String Teacher.
Novice Band Conductor: Yvonne Norris
Yvonne learned to play piano at a young age and picked up the flute in junior high in Edmonton. She continued to play in her school band, and then played sporadically over the years until she arrived in Victoria in the early 1990s. In 1994 Yvonne was presented with the wonderful opportunity to assist Sheri Robertson in her music room at Royal Oak Middle School and held this position until 2009. During that time, Yvonne also assisted at North Saanich Middle School for 6 years. These positions allowed her the opportunity to gain a good fundamental knowledge of playing wind and brass instruments, as well as basic repair skills. Yvonne also had the opportunity to conduct, teach theory, and work one-on-one with students. As such, she is able to provide beginner players with solid basic skills for their instrument.
Yvonne loves to impart her love of music to those around her who show an interest in picking up an old or new instrument. She enjoys challenging the Novice group members by teaching them basic music theory, how to read music, how to hold and play new instruments, and how to follow a director. Yvonne is thrilled to be helping people from so many different walks of life - she has taught people from ages 19 to 83! She continues to teach lessons privately (piano, guitar, saxophone) and looks forward to a continued relationship with new and old students at the GVCB.