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About

About the band


Since 1873, Chester Brass Band has been bringing people together through the power of live brass music. What began as a small group of passionate musicians has grown into a proud community institution, uniting generations through performance, education, and fellowship.

Our story

152 years of music in Chester

Founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1906, the Chester Brass Band is a British-style brass ensemble based in Chester, Nova Scotia. The band is a non-profit volunteer organization, funded wholly by its membership, concert series, and local patrons.

The Chester Brass Band’s repertoire includes classical works, marches, hymns, popular melodies and original works written or arranged specifically for brass band. 

The band has performed around Nova Scotia and across the world, often accompanying guest choirs, vocalists and instrumental soloists of distinction. On five occasions, Chester Brass was a top-three finisher at the International Brass Band Championships.

Our musical leadership

Conductor

George Morrison

Commander (Ret.) Canadian Forces, B.Mus., CD.

The band has been led since 2000 by Commander (Ret.) George Morrison. Commander Morrison was born in Toronto, Ontario, where he studied trumpet and piano before joining the Royal Canadian Navy as a Musician. In 1965 Commander Morrison attended the Royal Canadian Navy School of Music where he studied to become a director of Music. After his promotion to commissioned rank, he served as a training officer at the Canadian Forces School of Music in Victoria, British Columbia, as the Director of Music of the Stadacona Band of Maritime Command, as Assistant Supervisor of Music at National Defense Headquarters in Ottawa, and from 1984 until retirement in 1990, as Supervisor of Music for the Canadian Forces. He then served as the Atlantic Region Cadet Music Training Officer, responsible for cadet music in the four Atlantic Provinces until August of 2001.

During his career, Commander Morrison performed with many bands and orchestras, such as the Bolshoi Ballet, when it appeared in Wolfville, and other notable artists, including Bobby Vinton and Ann Murray. He has conducted with the Nova Scotia Tattoo, the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble, the National Film Board of Canada, the Stadacona Band of Maritime Command and many other Wind ensembles in Canada and abroad.

Commander Morrison, a graduate of Dalhousie University, has adjudicated at a number of music festivals in Canada and has conducted band and brass clinics throughout Nova Scotia. He continues to conduct and play in orchestras and ensembles in support of community endeavors.

Our players

Chester Brass Band Roster

The Chester Brass Band is made up entirely of volunteers. Meet the talented musicians who bring our performances to life.

Conductor
George Morrison, BMus, CD

Solo Cornet
Carrie Haggett, Alexander Barry, Keith Haggett

Repiano Cornet
Evelyn Ernst

2nd Cornet
Kevin Nickerson

3rd Cornet
Bob Warren, Hunter Hache

Flugelhorn
Sharla Watts

Solo E-flat Horn
Mike Charles, Hope Gendron

1st E-flat Horn
Gale Lohnes

2nd E-flat Horn
Becky Campbell

1st Baritone
Joe Schult

2nd Baritone
Donny Burch

Solo Euphonium
Patricia Gauci

2nd Euphonium
Emily Riding

1st Trombone
Andrew Ross, David Fullerton

2nd Trombone
Payson Rowell, Ben Ernst

Bass Trombone
Les Haddad

EE-flat Bass
John DeWolfe

BB-flat Bass
Matthew Himmelman

Percussion
Ian Bolton, John Bird, Quinton Beck, David Friendly

Play with us

We welcome brass and percussion players of all ages and abilities.

• Friendly, inclusive and supportive environment
• Weekly rehearsals and exciting performance opportunities
• Develop your skills and be part of something special