A new face will take to the podium and lead one of Canada’s oldest concert bands.
Marc Hayes was officially appointed the Nanaimo Concert Band’s musical director on Sept. 4 and brings to the orchestra a wealth of experience.
His background includes leading as a band master on cruise ships, working in theatre and pantomime productions, and teaching.
“Music is universal, no matter what you’re playing,” Hayes said. “Any professional experience is always going to have a positive impact on any musical setting.”
Before moving to Nanaimo in April, the musical director worked on cruise ships for more than a decade and played in several brass and concert bands in the U.K.
“What truly really helps … building those musicianship skills comes from playing with all sort of different bands or different people – age groups as well,” he said, adding that he started his musical career as a cadet with the Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force Band as a child.
Over the summer, before being officially appointed as the musical director, Hayes said he had the privilege of performing with a “little piece of band history.”
Through a family friend of his wife’s, Hayes conducted with an ivory and silver baton that once belonged to Andrew Dunsmore, a prominent Nanaimo music teacher who formed the first Upper Island Musical Festival and conducted the band roughly 100 years ago.
And although he won’t be playing an instrument with the Nanaimo Concert Band, Hayes said he’s looking forward to working with the group and expressing his musical interpretation to the players. He added there will also be a fine balance maintaining his goal of ensuring the musicians enjoy themselves while acknowledging his responsibility to help them improve as a unit.
“For a volunteer organization … musicians have to have a good time – that’s why they turn up every week to rehearsals,” Hayes said.
The musical director said the band’s fall concert at the Port Theatre on Nov. 5 will include music that has inspired him throughout his career, as well as Remembrance Day and Guy Fawkes Night selections.
READ MORE: Nanaimo Concert Band will play free summer concert next week
