Ayr-Paris Band

About the Ayr-Paris Band

With a group as big as ours there's always something to share. Check this page for all the goings on around band, and if you have news to report, let us know ayrparisband@hotmail.com. Watch The Ayr News for band events.

2017 Trophy Winners

Ann and Steve Brunton (left) were tied for best attendance in the Ayr-Paris Band in 2016. Derrick Ostner (second from right) was awarded the President’s Trophy for contributions by a band member not on the executive. Heather McQuillin (right) was awarded the Ayr Pipe Band (Scotland) Friendship Trophy for a senior band member who has shown an interest in improving their performance.

2017 Executive

Back row (l-r): Jim Linington, first vice president; Geoff Adeney, president; Dan Kocher, director; Dawna Ward, director; Calvin Ostner, director, Greg Stroh, second vice-president. Front row (l-r): Ruth Ireland, treasurer; Merry Schmidt, director; Jessica Bellamy, past-president; Heidi Ostner, secretary.

Located in Southern Ontario, Canada, the Band performs in concert and parades at local festivals, churches and remembrance services, and other special events. We also participate in many parades, all over Southwestern Ontario. Our engagement calendar is about 26 per year. The band also performs a series of free concerts every summer in the Ayr Pavilion (see the Schedule).

The Band is made up of members from all walks of life, all age groups and various skill levels.

Members come from towns surrounding Ayr, including Paris, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Drumbo. Some members have grown up in the band, joining when they were children and now watching their own children learn an instrument. It's a positive environment for young learners as many of the adults take on the role of mentor/teacher to the Junior band, then as those students become more advanced they help the newer members.

The Junior Band is a free service which encourages good playing techniques, mentored by senior band members and have several performances through the year. It's not all kids in the Junior group! Adults use it as a place to learn an instrument or to get comfortable with a horn after not playing for a while. When they're ready, Junior band members are welcomed to the senior group.

The Band is fortunate enough to receive several grants and donations throughout the year, but are mostly self-funded. Thanks to the help of many volunteers within the band and members families, they manage everything the band wants to do by rolling up sleeves and getting to work.
In 1999, the Band donated $10,000 and raised funds totaling $45,000 for the construction of a Band Pavilion (shown above) in the Village of Ayr, something the band is very proud of. At the Opening Ceremonies for the Pavilion, we hosted the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra from Ayr, Scotland.

Merry Schmidt
Conductor

Merry (Brunton) Schmidt has been conductor of the Band since 2001 and previously a long-time member of the Band. She grew up just outside of Paris, Ontario at Etonia. She holds her Bachelor of Music Degree from Laurier University, a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Western Ontario. She is also accomplished on violin and clarinet and teaches music at Cedar Creek School in Ayr. Merry is a member of the K-W Community Orchestra.

Richelle Kocher
Jr. Band Conductor

Richelle Kocher is from Ayr, Ontario. She has been conductor of the Ayr-Paris Junior Band since 2002 and a member of the Band since 1993. Her educational background includes an Honours Bachelor of Arts, Wilfrid Laurier University; major in English, minor in Music. She received her Bachelor of Education from Brock University in 2001. Richelle is an Elementary school teacher for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. She is the recipient of various musical awards and has worked at National Music Camp of Canada during the summer.

Ayr-Paris Band 25-year membership plaque

In memory of Ed Webster (1938-1998) for his 45 years of dedicated band service.

Schmidt, Jim - 1973	Brunton, Ann - 1998	Brown, James - 2012
Webster, Ed* - 1978	Brunton, Steve - 1998	Kerr, Ron - 2014
Meggs, Dennis* - 1980	Schmidt, Michael - 1999	Stroh, Greg - 2015
Cornford, John - 1983	Black, Barbara - 2005	Ostner, Derrick - 2016
Robertson, Doug - 1987	Clement, Lorna* - 2001	Adeney, Geoff - 2016
Janzen, Kathleen - 1991	Clement, Keith -- 2002	Kocher, Richelle - 2017
Schmidt-Adeney, Irene - 1995	Schmidt, Janet - 2003
Schmidt, George - 1996	Schmidt, Merry - 2003
Brunton, Ed* - 1996	Sippel, John - 2003
Brunton, Jeff - 1996	Ostner, Heidi - 2005	*deceased

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration

The Ayr-Paris Band held a Tattoo in 2006 to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. On June 17th, we invited alumni and present band members to join us for an afternoon of food and fun in Ayr, and in the evening everyone is invited to our Musical Tattoo. Everyone enjoyed three pipe bands, three brass bands, Scottish and North Dumfries Dignitaries, Irish/Scottish Dancers, Singers and Scottish Pipers as we celebrate and have a Twinning with Ayr Scotland.

On Sunday morning many joined us for an outdoor church service in Centennial Park at the pavilion. Guest minister is Rev. Doug Willis and music was provided by the Ayr Paris Band and Ayr, Scotland Pipers.

There are still a few of the anniversary books and CD. Contact Heidi, ayrparisband@hotmail.com.

Photo Album

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Before the first overseas trip to Scotland -- 1969	Ayr Band Beginners Class -- 1975	Ayr Paris Band in Drumbo -- 1977

Anniversary Souvenir Sing-Along Booklet Cover -- 1981	Strauss Monument in Vienna -- 1985	Rural Ontario Scenes -- circa 1985

At the Practice Hall -- circa 1995	Watson Dam -- 1997	Canadian Embassy in Rome -- 1998

Email is ayrparisband@hotmail.com

This page was last updated October 18, 2017