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New West concert band needs a new home

New Westminster and District Concert Band Society needs storage and rehearsal space for 60 musicians
Concert Band
The New Westminster and District Concert Band Society is looking for rehearsal space for 60 musicians and storage for equipment, instruments and music.

Can you help the New Westminster and District Concert Band Society find a new home?

The society includes three bands: a 60-piece concert band, a 25-piece intermediate concert band and a 20-piece jazz band. For the past 50 years, it’s held evening rehearsals in the gym at Richard McBride Elementary School, where it also had a storage space to house equipment, instruments and an extensive music library.

But, with the school soon to be replaced, the society is losing its home – and now it’s looking for a new rehearsal and storage space.

“We have long rehearsed in schools; however, we are open to new ideas: churches, town halls or city space, even commercial or warehouse space could easily work for us,” said band president Martha Cameron in a press release. “What is important is that we have enough space to rehearse approximately 60 musicians in the evening and have easy access to our equipment, instruments and library, which require 300 to 350 square feet of storage space.”

The concert band society dates back to 1928, and over the decades it’s provided a musical outlet for hundreds of musicians of all backgrounds and ages. It’s well known locally for its annual Father’s Day concert at the bandshell in Queen’s Park, along with other festival and event performances.

If you have a space to offer or can help the group in any way, email nwdbenquiries@gmail.com.

Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca.