New Westminster and District Concert and Jazz Bands

The New Westminster and District Concert Band had its beginning in the 1930’s when, known as the Royal City Boys and Girls Band, it was directed by Arthur Delamont, the founder and director of the famed Kitsilano Boys Band. During the war years of the 1940’s, the band served as a the representative band of all three of our armed forces under the direction of Fred Turner. In the early 1950’s, the band was sponsored by the Lion’s Club of New Westminster. The band has continued to exist as a community group and until recently saw its membership made up by mainly high school students. Today, the four levels of the bands; beginner, intermediate,senior and jazz sections, all have a large representation of adult and youth players providing an excellent musical opportunity for graduating high school musicians and young and mature adults who wish to continue making music in a concert band setting.

The band has travelled extensively over the years representing New Westminster in Japan, Australia, in the United States, Europe and England as well as numerous cross-Canada tours including a trip across Canada’s north. The band has been a keen participant in national as well as local music festivals, always performing at a high level and enjoying the experience.

The senior band is currently directed by John White. John led the band in the 1970’s and early ’80s, taking the group on an exciting trip to Denmark in 1978. Just recently (June 2007), Kerry Turner, coodirected with John for the past few years. Kerry has been either a player or a director in the band since 1949. The Turner family has been active in the musical history of our province through their involvement in public school music education as well as the New Westminster and District Band Society.

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