The School Band
Prior to an organized music department at AHSS there was a Glee Club and a Folk-Singing Club as co-curricular activities. These musical clubs performed at assemblies, sometimes as a group and other times featuring solos and duets, often in costume. Mr. Klassen and Mrs. Ruth Drummond were the faculty coordinators.
Bob Brandes (1969-1972) was born in Toronto, where his father was a musician. He developed his love of music there and he played trumpet in the Navy Band, then continued with this at the University of Michigan while pursuing his degree in Forestry. Bob's life was full with music, community, education, agriculture and forestry. He was the first Head of the Music Department, and the leader of the band from 1969 to1972 when he then returned to a career in forestry. After relocating to different areas in Ontario, Bob and his wife, Arleen, returned to Powassan in 2001 to spend their retirement.
Bob Brandes makes one think of the musical The Music Man running a music department with “pretend” instruments since he was the first music teacher hired at AHSS. However for the first few months there were no instruments. For four months he taught music without even a piano.
Bob was instrumental in guiding the building of the music facilities. The new music room was a pride for the sponsors of the project and it measured 45 by 60 feet, capable of accommodating an entire orchestra with raked seating. It also included practice rooms and an office. The architects gave special consideration to lighting, acoustics and ventilation. John McDermott was instrumental in the development and promotion of the music program and as a result there were both concert and stage bands as well as music theatre.
Bob was instrumental in guiding the building of the music facilities. The new music room was a pride for the sponsors of the project and it measured 45 by 60 feet, capable of accommodating an entire orchestra with raked seating. It also included practice rooms and an office. The architects gave special consideration to lighting, acoustics and ventilation. John McDermott was instrumental in the development and promotion of the music program and as a result there were both concert and stage bands as well as music theatre.
Gerry Teahan (1972-1980) was appointed in 1972. Prior to teaching, Gerry had been in the Navy. He began teaching in 1961 when music teachers were in demand. Since he had played piano by ear since high school, he could get a job. He taught music in Geraldton, Elliott Lake, Val Caron, Pembroke and North Bay before coming to Almaguin. At AHSS, he continued to develop the band programme, but then moved to Mapleridge Senior Public School in Powassan in 1980. After a year’s leave of absence, he eventually moved to the west coast. These days he is an active jazz musician and composer on the sunshine coast, performing keyboard in such bands as the Bayou Dixieland Jazz Band and Downtown Eastside Jazz.
Ruth Drummond travelled with the band as a female chaperone. She had a group of a dozen girls who sang a cappella and they also had numbers arranged with the band accompaniment. One year Gerry Teahan decided they would go to the National/International Music Festival held in Toronto. Bands came from Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor and the USA. Some of the bands from the USA had majorettes and as many as 150 members. The AHSS vocal ensemble seemed small in comparison to some of the large choirs that had a minimum of fifty singers. However, the judges were so impressed with the girls that they made a special category for them with a trophy of recognition.
The late bus system that gave students equal opportunity to take part in activities, showed commitment to making AHSS work and was important for the co-curricular programmes such as the band, drama and sports teams. During Gerry Teahan’s tenure, the band performed at assemblies and several concerts each year. A community involvement initiative was to send the school band out to play concerts in each community during the Christmas season, including the smaller communities like Chisholm.
Members of the band were involved in fundraising initiatives to raise money for the band trips, Kiwanis Festivals, and the band uniform that consisted of Black Watch tartan blazers. Each December there was a huge delivery of boxes of oranges and grapefruit that all band members were responsible for selling.
Members of the band were involved in fundraising initiatives to raise money for the band trips, Kiwanis Festivals, and the band uniform that consisted of Black Watch tartan blazers. Each December there was a huge delivery of boxes of oranges and grapefruit that all band members were responsible for selling.
Then there was the 24-hour play-a-thon in the gym to raise money for the trip to Washington in the spring of 1976. For students who attended, it was a highlight to travel to Washington and billet with students from a high school in a wealthy area of Maryland. Many of the houses were armed with guns. The band performed in a school in Washington and performed with the school band there in several joint numbers, having rehearsed the same pieces. Sightseeing included the White House, the United States Capitol and Capitol Hill, the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall with other memorials.
Other trips included the Kiwanis Festivals in both North Bay and Toronto, where the band performed Handel’s Suite in E minor at Lawrence Park Collegiate and placed third. At that time, Runneymede, Lawrence Park and Oakwood Collegiates were the competitor schools with amazing music programmes. Other trips included a trip to Ottawa where the band stayed at Carleton University and performed in Stittsville, a trip to Niagara and an outdoor performance at Ontario Place- mid day and midweek in June with a very small audience! It was still exciting.
The 1969 AHSS Album: Sabotage
In 1969 the 9I Business Class project was to record and produce the AHSS album, Sabotage. The credits on the album are given to the 9I record club: President: Karen Davis, Vice President: Dana Kelly, Secretary: Bonnie Rennette, Treasurer: Dawn Long.
"We would like to thank Mr. Si Yoshida for taking the pictures for our cover, Mr. Ken Leroy for his patience at the CFCH TV Station, and Mr. Bill Garvey for giving the 9I class time to complete this project. Very special thanks to Mr. Jim Buchan for designing the cover."
"We would like to thank Mr. Si Yoshida for taking the pictures for our cover, Mr. Ken Leroy for his patience at the CFCH TV Station, and Mr. Bill Garvey for giving the 9I class time to complete this project. Very special thanks to Mr. Jim Buchan for designing the cover."
Variety Night (date unknown)