Rehearsal Times
Tuesday Evenings: 7:00 - 9:00pm ..... Community Band
Thursday Evenings: 7:30 - 9:30pm ..... Jazz Band
St. Albert United Church
The SACB Calendar begins the first Tuesday after the September long weekend and runs through to our June concert. We break for Christmas, and Spring Break. We perform in a variety of venues in the Edmonton and St. Albert areas, including; the Winspear Centre, Arden Theatre, Red Deer International Band Festival, Festival Place in Sherwood Park, Yardbird Suite, the Provincial Museum and in conjunction with a variety of school music programs.
History
St. Albert Community Band began in 1970. Band membership has grown in the past 48 years and currently stands at over 70 players. Members are from all walks of life and range in age from teens to retirees, truly reflecting the band's motto: Music is for Life!
Over the years, the band has served the community through performances in schools, hospitals, seniors' homes, and parks in addition to the annual Christmas and Spring concerts.
Full band workshops and sectional clinics with guest conductors have been a vital part of the band's growing level of competence. The band has participated in the Alberta Band Association Music Festival, Music Fest Canada, and the Northern Alberta Music Festival. On occasion, the band has gone on tour. Destinations have included Oregon, Victoria, Banff, Jasper, and Medicine Hat.
Recordings were made to celebrate the band's 25th and 30th anniversaries. The band's 35th anniversary, and Alberta's 100th anniversary, was marked with a special concert hosted by St. Albert Community Band at Winspear Centre. Centennial Celebration of Community Bands included guest bands from Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Okotoks, and Camrose. A recording was made of the event.
A highlight in the band's history, and of its 35th anniversary, was performing for HRH Queen Elizabeth II on the grounds of the provincial museum.
A variety of conductors have led the St. Albert Community Band. Dr. Angela Schroeder is the music director for the current season. Dr. Schroeder, an accomplished trumpet player, is currently Assistant Professor of Music in the Department of Music of the University of Alberta. She is the Director of Bands, the area coordinator for the Winds and Percussion, and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Concert Band. She also teaches courses in conducting and wind band education, and works with Graduate students in Wind Band conducting.
In addition to the concert band, St. Albert Community Band formed a jazz band in 1985. As well as performing at the Christmas and Spring concerts, this band has participated in Edmonton Jazz City and performed at Yardbird Suite. As with the concert band, guest clinicians and workshops have been an important part of the jazz band's development.
Brian Demuynck has been a music teacher in St. Albert for over 20 years. He has been a member of the Gateway Big Band for 20 years and performs regularly with the "IN 4" Jazz Quartet. Brian has a long time association with the St. Albert Community Band, playing clarinet, flute and trombone with the concert band; directing a junior level of the Community Band; and playing alto, tenor and baritone sax, trombone and bass guitar in the big band. In the past few years he has filled in occasionally as a substitute conductor, and he is now our current conductor for the Saint City Big Band.
Our Motto
Music is for Life!