Barrie Central Collegiate Band

Barrie Central Collegiate Band

Barrie Central Collegiate Band. High school band of approximately 90 members, founded in 1923 at Barrie, Ont, by W. Allen Fisher (1905-89, a teacher 1931-72 of English and history, honorary LL D Queen's 1972, Member of the Order of Canada 1973). Originally a student orchestra, it was converted to a band in 1941. Under Fisher's direction (to 1972) it established its reputation as one of Canada's leading school bands, touring extensively in Canada, the US and Europe, and winning over 100 first prizes in competitions such as those at the World Music Festival at Kerkrade, Holland, where it placed first in 1970. The band was led 1972-86 by Morley Calvert, under whom it won more than 25 first and second prizes, including gold medals at Kerkrade in 1974 and 1978 and the Major Brian S. McCool Trophy annually 1974-6 and in 1978 at the Kiwanis Festival in Toronto. In 1975 the band represented Canada at the inaugural International Festival of Youth Brass and Symphonic Bands held at Cardiff and London.

Calvert was succeeded in 1986 by Douglas Hall, who taught until 1993. Since 1993, Graham Hilliam has conducted the Junior Band and Jazz Band, and Lisa Perry, graduate of Barrie Central and former student of Morley Calvert, has directed the Senior Band. Both Perry and Hilliam are graduates of the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto.

The band's repertoire has included works of Bernardus Bogisch, Morley Calvert, Robert Fleming, James Gayfer, Scott Irvine (see Hannaford Street Silver Band) and Howard Cable among many others. Recordings by the band were issued privately in 1969, 1971, 1975, and 1983.

See Youth Orchestras