Celebrating 45 years of bands on campus

In 1931, the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music was the first in Western Canada to offer a Bachelor of Music degree, making 2006 the Department of Music's seventy-fifth anniversary.  Band activity was scant in the beginning and choral ensembles were prevalent.  A string orchestra named the Saskatoon Symphony was present on campus in 1931, and conducted by the first head of the Department of Music, Aurther Collingwood.

Shortly before World War II, a group known as the Varsity Band emerged on campus.  The Varsity Band, also referred to as the Varsity Orchestra in the yearbooks of the 1940's and early 50's, was a dance band comprised of players of varying talent from different colleges across campus.  Some of the members also played with other dance/jazz groups like that of Gordie Bandt and Barney Kutz, or the Bridge City Dixieland Jazz Band.  As well, members of the Varsity Band personnel such as the Bop City Jazz Band, Gordie King Big Band, and the Mike Griner All Stars.  Another such group pre-1954 was the 'College Nine' and in 1954, a much less serious group, 'The Intensely Vigorous College Nine' was formed with Bob Caldwell and late Rt. Honourable Governor General, Ray Hnatyshn, among the original members.

A formal concert band program was launched in 1961 under the direction of David Kaplan.  Under Kaplan's direction, the Varsity Band presented concerts in the Upper Mub and Convocation Hall, and apparently played a dance or two in the U of S gymnasium.  In 1965, the ensemble made its first trip to Edmonton and played a couple of concerts as well as basketball game between the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta.  The Varsity Concert Band became known as the University Concert Band in 1967, the same year Dwaine Nelson assumed the role as Director of Bands.

The alumnus, Glen Gillis has directed the Wind Orchestra 2001 to present.   Currently there are approximately 130 instrumental students involved in the bands.  In 2005, the Wind Orchestra released its first commercial CD, Winds of the Prairie: A Celebration, as a part of Saskatchewan's Centennial.  Through invitations, the Wind Orchestra toured Texas in February 2006 with highlights including a shared concert with the University of North Texas Symphonic Band in the Murchison Performing Arts Centre-Winspear Hall, as well as performance/clinic presentation, Making Music in 3D at the Texas Music Educators' Association Conference in San Antonio.

(excerpted from "Bands at the U of Saskatchewan: A Brief History" by Glen Gillis and submitted to the Canadian Winds magazine)

The Wind Orchestra will hold two 45th anniversary concerts.  The first will be on November 24 at 7:30 pm in Convocation Hall, and the second will be on March 16 at 7:30 pm in Convocation Hall.