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Bernie Burke
Bernie Burke (1923 - 2002) was the voluntary director of the Parrsboro Citizen’s Band for 47 years. He was responsible for hundreds of young people gaining proficiency and appreciation for music of many styles.
In addition to this incredible commitment Bernie, the father of five children, managed to find time to do the following: manager, Nova Scotia Liquor Commission (retiring in 1983); organist and choir director at St. Brigid’s Church for 40 years; organist at the Springhill Institution for 10 years; brass player with a community band in Sackville, NB, bandmaster, training officer and commanding officer of the Parrsboro Sea Cadet Corps; official bugler for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #45 and Provincial President of the Canadian Bandmaster’s Association. In recognition to these, and many other contributions to his community, Bernie was named Parrsboro Citizen of the Year in 1987. Bernie Burke served his country in the 4th Canadian Armored Division and saw action in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
I remember Bernie Burke as a gentle man with a strong sense of duty and a terrific sense of humour. It was very difficult to keep up to him. He moved quickly with intention and purpose. Ken Foote had this to say after meeting Bernie: “Like all great teachers, Bernie will never know how many lives he touched and changed. Be it an appearance in a parade or patiently teaching a child to march, Bernie touched many. I know there is a special spot in my heart for him.”
At present there is a great void in the community of Parrsboro as the citizens mourn their loss. Before Bernie passed away the town honoured him with a scholarship in his name. It is good to know that his efforts did not go unnoticed. There was a reception held at the Parrsboro Citizen’s Band Hall after the funeral. Many photos, plaques and trophies were on display, but the most fitting tribute was a performance of “Bernie’s March” by the combined Parrsboro and Sackville, NB Community Bands. This piece was written a number of years ago by Ron MacKay.
Contributed by David Pos
Bernie Burke was awarded a Life Membership to the Nova Scotia Band Association in 2000. -
Cy Campbell
In February, 1999, Cy Campbell reluctantly resigned as NSBA President due to ill health. The NSBA owes a great debt to Cy for his outstanding leadership and progressive vision of what NSBA could become. When Cy assumed the Presidency he accepted the challenge with enthusiasm and a sincere desire to see our association grow to its full potential. Cy worked tirelessly and unselfishly for the NSBA and all its members.
I would like to share a few of the highlights of Cy Campbell's lifelong commitment to music, music education and to the youth of Nova Scotia and Canada. Cy was born and raised in Halifax and in 1953 became one of the first candidates to enter the Royal Canadian Navy's new Bandsman Apprentice Programme. Cy, and three other young Canadian musicians, became members of Class 1 at the newly formed School of Music at HMCS Naden, in Esquimalt, British Columbia. After graduating, Cy returned to Halifax, where he served in RCN Bands at Stadacona, Shearwater and Cornwallis and in a variety of RCN Bands serving at sea.
Cy left the Stadacona Band in the early 1970's to assume the position of Bandmaster at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood. While at Greenwood, he attended Acadia University and in 1976, after retiring from the Canadian Forces, accepted and instrumental teaching position in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. Cy completed his music and teaching degrees at Saint Francis Xavier University and then began teaching instrumental music in Port Hawkesbury. A short time later, Cy became involved in Canada's Cadet movement and spent many summers at Cornwallis as Officer in Charge of the Cadet Summer Music Programme. Cy's well-respected leadership skills and strong commitment to youth resulted in his appointment as Camp Commandant, a position which he held for three consecutive summers and one which had never before been held by a Music Officer.
In Port Hawkesbury, Cy's Straight Area Region Educational Centre Bands became well-known throughout Nova Scotia for high quality performances and extraordinary involvement in their home community. When the Maritime Band Association was formed, Cy quickly became a staunch supporter and spent a great deal of time ensuring that the Cape Breton Music Programs were recognized as an integral arm of that association. With the formation of NSBA, and retirement from full time teaching, Cy became even more involved in our association's activities.
Cy Campbell contributed in a monumental way to the mission, ideals and goals of the Nova Scotia Band Association.
Contributed by Jim Forde (May 1999)
Cy Campbell was awarded a Life Membership to the Nova Scotia Band Association in 1999. -
Professor James H Hargreaves
Professor Emeritus, Music Department, St. FX University, Life Member of the Nova Scotia Band Association, passed away at home, Saturday, December 13, 2003, after a protracted and valiant battle with cancer.
Born in Perth, Scotland, in 1934, educated in Scotland and England, he emigrated to Canada in 1959. James Hargreaves was prominent in the Canadian world of music as a virtuoso performer (trumpet), renowned conductor and gifted teacher. He was considered one of the foremost music directors of wind ensembles in Canada. He built programs that trained a generation of instrumental teachers and helped to establish a strong band component in areas where there had been none. He was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music in London, U.K. A gifted soloist in all styles he was principle trumpet in Her Majesty's Scots Guards and a CBC Radio recording artist.
In 1970, he attended Crane School of Music, State University of New York and was hired by St. FX in 1971 where he became a full professor in 1992. After retiring in 1999, he spent many hours in his workshop, Ash Lane Atelier, turning beautiful things from exotic woods for his family and friends. He was an avid, adventurous sailor who enjoyed a single handed voyage to Bermuda and family trips in Maritime waters. During the 1980s, he served as chair of the Music Department and among his other activities, arranged repertoire for wind ensemble. His forte, however was teaching. Whether at the podium or in the classroom, he was a master teacher, respected by his colleagues and loved and admired by his students who will remember him for the inspiration, support and impact he had on their musical lives.
He was the founding Music Director and Conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble from 1991 to 1999. The N.S.Y.W.E. has achieved national acclaim and has established a reputation as one of Canada’s premiere youth wind ensembles. He was conductor of the National Youth Band of Canada in 1996. He was also a member of the Maritime Jazz Orchestra (trumpet), 1996 to 2000 and an adjudicator and clinician across Canada. His many awards included the Canadian Band Association Distinguished Band Director Award, 1998 and the Nova Scotia Music Educators' Association Musica Viva Award in 2001.
He is survived by his wife, Donna (Bjorgan) Hargreaves, a musician and educator. They met while establishing the music program at Canterbury High School of the Arts in Ottawa and were wed in 1972. He is the father of five surviving children, Stewart (Barbara), Antigonish; James (Lisa), St. Petersburg, Fla.; Richard (Marion), Brockville, Ont.; Heather (Stephen), New Glasgow and Alexis (Colin McNeil), Churchville. His body has been donated to Dalhousie Medical School.
James Hargreaves Memorial Scholarship Fund
Jim Hargreaves was awarded a Life Membership to the Nova Scotia Band Association in 1998. -
Herbert Schoales
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Herbert Schoales on September 23, 2004, after a brief illness. Herb had a long and rich career in music, both as a professional trombonist and as a music educator.
He began his career in the 1930's, playing jazz trombone with various notable big bands, including the Tommy Dorsey Band. He then served his country during the Second World War as a member of a U.S. Army band with rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war, Herb attended Julliard School of Music in New York City, graduating with a diploma in brass instruments. He then attended Columbia University majoring in music education graduating with a B.A. and an M.A. While living in New York City, Herb played trombone at the Metropolitan Opera, the Long Island Symphony and Radio City Music Hall. He also played with Arthur Fiedler in the Boston Pops. Later, Herb entered the teaching profession, rapidly rising to the position of supervisor of music education in Babylon, Long Island, N.Y. This led to subsequent supervisory positions in the Locust Valley and the Merrick-Belmore school systems, both in New York.
In 1976, Herb moved with his family to Halifax, where he became a teacher of brass instruments for the Halifax School Board. Following this, he became a part-time professor at Dalhousie University. Herb loved to teach and loved all aspects of music. He composed and conducted a number of small musical pieces, as well as larger symphonic works, including a fanfare for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Halifax.
Herb is survived by his wife, Jeanne; son, Gary and daughter-in-law, Virginia; daughters, Audrey, Melissa and son-in-law, Charles Bishop, and son, Glenn; grandchildren James and Emilie Bishop, Richard and John Bump. He was predeceased by granddaughter, Allison. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Canadian Diabetes Association -
Christine Webber
Passed away at her home February 9, 2003, after a long illness. She was born in Halifax, March 28th, 1960. She was a talented musician who spread her love of music by teaching in the Halifax school system. She was also fond of gardening, camping, swimming, skating and other sports. The music of her laughter, the light of her smile and the joy of her exuberance will always be with those who loved her.
She is survived by her daughter, Erin Hoth; her parents, Lorna and Reg Webber, her brother, Mark, Philadelphia; her sisters, Janice Wales; Diane Webber, Hamilton; grandmother, Marguerite Cole (Kirtin); nephews, Graham and Grayson Hamilton.
Journey of Life
For each of us life is like a journey.
Birth is the beginning of this journey, and
Death is not the end but the destination.
It is a journey that takes us
from youth to age,
from innocence to awareness,
from ignorance to knowledge,
from foolishness to wisdom,
from weakness to strength and often back again,
from offence to forgiveness,
from loneliness to friendship,
from pain to compassion,
from fear to faith,
from defect to victory and from victory to defeat,
until, looking backward or ahead,
we see that victory does not lie
at some high point along the way,
but in having made the journey,
stage by stage.
- Old Hebrew Prayer