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The Band has been together since 1956, which means we celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2006! We had a fabulous reunion and Tattoo in the summer of '06 to celebrate our 50th anniversary. Thanks to everyone who came out and worked so hard to make it a success! Ayr-Paris Band Membership The band is made up of members from all walks of life, all age groups and all talent levels. Some of our players are professionals, some are playing an instrument for the first time. Members come from many towns surrounding Ayr, including Paris, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Drumbo. Many members have grown up in the band, joining when they were children and now watching their own children learn an instrument. It's a positive environment for young learners as many of the adults take on the role of mentor/teacher to the Junior band, then as those students become more advanced they help the newer members. Our Junior band acts as a feeder band to the senior group. Conducted by Richelle Read, the bands primary focus is to get the players ready to take on the Senior band by encouraging good playing techniques, mentoring by Senior band members and several performances through the year. But it's not all kids in the Junior band. Adults use it as a place to learn an instrument or to get comfortable with a horn after not playing for a while. When they're ready, the Junior band members are invited up to the Senior band and mentored by more skilled players.
About us Located in Southern Ontario, Canada, the Band performs in concert at local festivals, churches and remembrance services, plus at local retirement and nursing homes. We also participate in many parades, with an engagement calendar of approximately 26 jobs per year. We have taken part in the Toronto St. Patrick's parade for 13 consecutive years; the Disney parade at Goderich (1999) and the Toronto Santa Claus parade. Annually we march in Christmas parades in various communities including Ayr, Paris, Woodstock, Guelph and Bright, plus we perform in Preston, Ayr and Galt Legion parades. You'll also see us every year in Brantford and Hamilton Feast Day parades, plus Paris and Cambridge Canada Day parades. The band also puts on a series of free concerts every summer in the new pavilion plus host several fund raising events. The band is fortunate enough to receive several grants and donations throughout the year, but mostly they are self funded. Thanks to the help of many volunteers within the band and members families, they manage everything the band wants to do by rolling up sleeves and getting to work. If you look at the News page you'll see just how many of the members have been around for a long time. In 1999, the Band donated $10,000 and raised funds totaling $45,000 for the construction of a Band Pavilion in the Village of Ayr, something the band is very proud of. At the Opening Ceremonies for the Pavilion, we hosted the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra from Ayr, Scotland.
Our Conductors Merry Schmidt -- Conductor Merry Schmidt grew up just outside of Paris, Ontario in a family of eight. Music was instilled in her, and her four brothers and one sister, from her parents at a very young age. When she turned five, Merry began private violin lessons with Virginia Little in Branford, Ontario. during the next 13 years she was very involved in the Brantford Youth Orchestra, small ensembles and music festivals, as well as the Ayr-Paris Band as a clarinet player. This organization had become a very important part of their family life as several members of her family played in the band, enjoying the concerts, parades and tours in Europe. Merry was also teaching privately to help provide the means to get to the next step of her training. She completed her Honours Bachelor of Music Degree from Laurier University, and went on the receive a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Western Ontario. It was after that she married her husband Michael, who was in the Navy with the Canadian Armed Forces, and also an accomplished saxophone player. Over the next nine years through their travels, she was able to perform with various community orchestras, the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra and serve as a volunteer bands member with the Military Band in cold Lake, Alberta. In 1995 they returned to Ontario, settling in Ayr, Ontario. Merry is currently with the Waterloo region district School Board teaching Grade 7 and 8 instrumental music and has rejoined the Ayr-Paris Band, igniting many old friendships. Under the direction of Jim Underwood, Merry became the assistant conductor and upon his retirement from conducting in 2001 she was asked to become the principle conductor. This summer, 2003, will be her first tour that she will make with the Ayr-Paris Band as conductor and is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful organization and group of individuals. She continues to share her love of music with her husband and two young children, Alex and Andrea. Merry has had the privilege to be exposed to a wide range of music, perform and have friendships with many musicians and grow musically under the direction of exceptional conductors. Richelle Read -- Junior Band Conductor Richelle Read was born on December 23, 1977. She has always been a resident of Ayr, Ontario. Richelle has been the conductor of the Ayr-Paris Junior Band for 4 years. Her educational background includes an Honours Bachelor of Arts, from Wilfrid Laurier University, with a major in English and a minor in Music. She received her Bachelor of Education from Brock University in 2001. Richelle is a F.S.L, Music and Drama teacher for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. She has been a member of the Ayr-Paris Band for 8 years. She is the recipient of various musical awards. Richelle also works at National Music Camp of Canada during the summer and has been on staff for 4 years. Richelle has three brothers who are also members of the Ayr-Paris Junior Band and her parents are very supportive of her musical endeavors.
Previous Tours We completed our eighth international tour in August, 2001. Our very successful 14-day tour of Holland, Belgium and France included performances in Amsterdam, The Hague, Arnhem, Groesbeek, Brugges (Belgium), Vimy Ridge (France). We ended the trip with 2 days sightseeing in Paris, France, which included a tour of the fabulous city and free time to shop, eat and enjoy. There were 39 in the Orchestra with 79 persons traveling along with our Group. The non-musicians include family and friends of the band, plus people from the community who love the music/travel combination. Most of our group sat in for all the concerts, supporting the band as they always do. It's much appreciated! In the summer of 2003 the band toured the East Coast of Canada in a 2 week whirlwind trip. Our bus drivers made this a wonderful trip for everyone. And more recently, in the summer of 2006 we spent over 2 weeks in Ireland and Scotland. The tour prior to these was to Germany, Austria and Italy for 15 days in 1998. In June, 1995, they spent a weekend in Kingston, Ontario and participated in the Heritage Society's WWII Commemorative Tattoo. Previously, the band has traveled to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (1994), performing 10 engagements including an outdoor concert in Belfast, Northern Ireland; Scotland, England and Wales (1991); Ayr, Scotland (1969 and 1980); Germany and Austria (1985); Germany and France (1988). They have been to both the East and West Coasts in Canada; Canada's capital city, Ottawa (1990); Kingston, Ontario (1992) and performed at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada in 1982.
Online Bulletin Board We now have an online Bulletin Board for members who are away traveling to use to keep in touch with the band, and for general discussion. Click on the button below, and you'll be taken to Bravenet's service. You'll be able to return to this page when you're finished. If you have any questions on using the forum, please email me at ayrparisband@hotmail.com
Some past group pictures Click on images for larger pictures. Images will be in a new browser window
Email is ayrparisband@hotmail.com This page was last updated December 11, 2009 |
