The Calgary Concert Band

Historical Overview

The Calgary Concert Band traces its origins to 1947 when well known Calgary band conductor W.A. Leggitt formed the
Calgary Musician's Association band. It adopted a cowboy uniform and during the ensuing years the band appeared at
the Stampede parades and presented numerous concerts in the parks. Norman Halling became Bandmaster in 1950
and the band assumed its current name. In 1952 they accepted an invitation to join 403 Reserve Squadron RCAF as
the squadron band and functioned concurrently as a civilian band. The uniform of red jackets, black trousers, white
shirts and black bow ties was adopted in 1960 and changed in 2002 to black jackets. In 1963 Capt.F.M.(Ray) McLeod,
former military band director with the PPCLI and Lord Strathcona Horse Regiment, took over as musical director. From
1989 to 1997 Stephen Franse, principal bassoonist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, assumed the role of music
director. Dr. Jeremy Brown, Professor of Saxophone and Music Education at the University of Calgary, then became the
musical director. During this time the band was invited to play at the Jungfrau Music Festival in Interlaken, Switzerland
and the Mid Europe Music Festival in Schladming, Austria.

Since November 2005, the band has been under the musical directorship of Earl Paddock, Music Director at William
Aberhart High School. And in the summer of 2007 the band participated in the Festival des Anches d’Azur, La Croix Valmer,
France and also toured and performed at various locations in London and Bath, England.