WHAT IS A COMMUNITY BAND FESTIVAL?
The Second Chances Community Band of Nova Scotia is only one of the many community-based musical ensembles in the Atlantic provinces. Together, these many ensembles create a musical network and supportive family that helps promote musical learning and ensemble playing for everyone at any stage of life. The community band festivals, hosted in different communities throughout Nova Scotia each year, are an opportunity for the many members of this Atlantic Canadian musical family to come together, learn from each others experience, celebrate each others successes, build lasting friendships, and make memorable music together.
We are hosting the 10th Annual Halifax Community Band Festival during the weekend of May 23rd through 25th, 2025 and we hope you will consider joining us! The Band Fest committee has begun the process of organizing and raising the necessary funds to make this valuable community band weekend a success! There is much work to do in preparation for what could potentially become the largest community band festival in Atlantic Canada!
Past Promotional Videos
2016 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: THE HALIFAX COMMUNITY BAND FESTIVAL – AN OVERVIEW
2017 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: THE MACKAY “MUSIC FOR LIFE” LEARNING BAND
2018 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: THE HARGREAVES ADVANCED BAND
2019 PROMOTIONAL VIDEO: AN ORIGINAL WORK FOR BAND COMMISSIONED
This year, the Halifax Community Band Festival will be offering three levels of playing ensemble:
1. A Beginner Ensemble, called the Ron MacKay band – for players with 1-2 years of experience. Who is Ron MacKay, you ask? Find out here: Ron MacKay Bio
2. An Intermediate Ensemble, called the Chris Ward band – for players with 2-3 years of playing experience.
3. An Advanced Ensemble, called the James H. Hargreaves band – for players with more than 3 years of experience. Who is James Hargreaves, you ask? Find out here: James H. Hargreaves Bio (coming soon)
Our hope is that both ensembles will be made up of players from many different community bands and orchestras from all over Atlantic Canada. Please consider wearing your ensemble’s performance attire in the final concert to reflect the number of groups represented at the festival.
Please take some time to explore the Halifax Community Band Festival related web pages located under the Hfx Band Fest 2025 drop down menu above.
– – – – – – PLEASE REGISTER FOR BAND FEST NOW !!! – – – – – –
Are you even the slightest bit interested in:
1. Meeting many other community band players from all over the Atlantic Canada?
2. Playing under the baton of talented, respected and professional conductors/educators?
3. Experiencing the excitement of playing in ensembles with full instrumentation?
4. Having a fantastic weekend of musical fellowship and music making with friends?
If so, then I encourage you to REGISTER FOR BAND FEST NOW! Decisions regarding what Second Chances can afford to include as activities during the weekend event are dependent upon the number of participants. Registering now is not a firm commitment to attend, but simply an indication of interest in being there.
Register Here:
Band Fest Registration
Band Fest 2025 Brochure:
Brochure 2025 – coming soon
Past Halifax Band Fest Brochures:
Brochure – 2014.pdf
Brochure – 2015.pdf
Brochure – 2016.pdf
Brochure – 2017.pdf
Brochure – 2018 (no brochure printed)
Brochure – 2019 (no brochure printed)
Brochure 2020.pdf (cancelled due to Covid-19)
Brochure 2021.pdf (cancelled due to Covid-19)
Brochure 2022.pdf
Brochure 2023.pdf
Brochure 2024 (no brochure printed)
Halifax Band Fest in the News:
The Chronicle Herald
Cyndi Sweeney’s 2014 article “Don’t Stop the Music: Strike a Chord for Community”
The Halifax Community Band Festivals are proudly hosted by: 