What exactly makes a community band is a bit hard to define, but we like to think it’s a group of people who love music and are willing to be inclusive and generous with their talents and energy. Their musical repetoire, visual aesthetic, performance style, organizational mandate, and off-stage antics are as varied as the personalities that they attract.
Below are a few fantastic community bands that have caught our eye, but because this movement is fast growing and often chaotic by nature, this list is by no means exhaustive.
Vancouver Area
- British Columbia Regiment Band (Vancouver, BC)
- Delta Music Makers (Delta, BC)
- Maple Ridge Concert Band (Maple Ridge, BC)
- Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Vancouver, BC)
- Royal City Concert Band (New Westminster, BC)
- South Fraser Community Band (Surrey, BC)
- Vancouver Concert Band (Vancouver, BC)
- Vancouver Rainbow Concert Band (Vancouver, BC)
- West Vancouver Youth Band (West Vancouver, BC)
- Port Moody Community Band (possibly inactive)
- Sambata (likely inactive)
- Whalley Legion Band (Surrey) (currently inactive)
British Columbia
- Greater Victoria Concert Band (Victoria, BC)
- Nanaimo Concert Band (Nanaimo, BC)
- Prince George Community Band (Prince George, BC)
- Westshore Community Band (Victoria, BC)
Worldwide
- Blowcomotion (Austin, TX)
- Brass Liberation Orchestra (San Francisco, CA)
- Environmental Encroachment (Chicago, IL)
- Extra Action Marching Band (Oakland, CA)
- Good Trouble Brass Band (Somerville, MA)
- Hungry March Band (New York, NY)
- L Train Brass Band (Brooklyn, NY)
- La Grande Machin Chose (France)
- Leftist Marching Band (Portsmouth, NH)
- March Fourth Marching Band (Portland, OR)
- Rude Mechanical Orchestra (New York, NY)
- School of Honk (Boston, MA)
- Seed & Feed Marching Abominable (Atlanta, GA)
- Tuten und Blasen (Germany)
- Undertow Brass Band (Providence, RI)
- La Banda del Surdo (likely inactive)
- Stick & Rag Village Orchestra (likely inactive)