The last time Rob McLeod was on stage at the Brunton Auditorium, it was 1982 and he was performing his graduation recital as part of the Mount Allison music programme. Fast forward 41 years, and McLeod is back to hit the stage again, this time as conductor of the renewed and revitalized Sackville Citizens Band. The band is making its comeback on Wednesday night at the Brunton Auditorium.
CHMA sat down with McLeod and the band’s organizing force, French horn player Bill Costin, to talk about the concert, the band’s history, and its future:
“The band is back,” says Costin. “We have our first spring concert in three years.” The last time the band performed together was December 2019. When the pandemic struck a few months later, things went into limbo for a few years, but about a month ago, players started gathering and rehearsing, and are ready to perform their comeback “celebration” concert on Wednesday, says Costin.
“We have a long tradition here and we’d like to continue it,” says Costin. The band formed officially in 1902, and served on and off as a military band in the decades since. “There’s pictures of us in the First World War marching the soldiers down to the train station where they were sent off to fight,” says Costin.
McLeod says the band is a standard concert band, featuring brass, woodwinds and percussion, with a varied repertoire. There’s about 25 musicians in the band currently, including many retired professionals, and McLeod says he’s still hoping it will grow. “We’re fielding an incredibly strong team, but there are parts that are missing,” says McLeod.
Both McLeod and Costin have their musical roots in the Sackville Citizens Band, and can recall playing under the direction of longtime director Charlie Estabrooks. “It’s quite an honour for me to come back,” says McLeod, “and sort of carry on that legacy.”
McLeod is a Sackville native who has lived in Vancouver for the past 35 years, “doing everything from conducting to music education to performing.” He’s been returning home annually for about 25 years, and has now decided, “it’s time to move home and be a part of this community again.”
The concert Wednesday is called Longing, Belonging, Loss, and Love, with music evoking those four themes. “COVID has been a very difficult situation for everybody,” says Costin. “And during that time, there has been a sense of loss of belonging, there has been loss. And what’s bringing us back is the love of music.”
“It’s a treat to play very emotional music,” says Costin. “Some of it just sends shivers up your backbone.”
The Sackville Citizens Band spring concert takes place Wednesday June 7, at 7:30pm at the Brunton Auditorium in the Mt A conservatory of music on Main Street in Sackville.
