Ayr-Paris Band

About the Ayr-Paris Band

2024 Executive

Back row, from left: back row from left: Vice-President Irene Adeney; Past President Dan Kocher;
President Calvin Ostner; Conductor Barb Black; 2^nd Year Director Kathy Zammit.
Front row from left: 3^rd Year Director Linda Carrigan; Merry Schmidt (retired conductor);
Secretary Heidi Ostner; Treasurer and Assistant Conductor Ruth Ireland

In 1999, the band donated 25% of the cost and raised the funds to build the
Centennial Park Pavilion (shown below) in downtown Ayr.
The Opening Ceremonies featured the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra from Ayr, Scotland.

Located in Southern Ontario, Canada, the Ayr-Paris Band performs in concert, in parades at local festivals, churches, Remembrance services, and other special events. The band also performs a series of free concerts at the Centennial Park Pavilion and other locations. (see the schedule).

The band is a diverse group with has members from all walks of life, age groups and musical skill levels.

Members come from towns surrounding Ayr, including Paris, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Drumbo, and St. George.

Some members grew up in the band and are 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 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.

Barb Black
Music Director

Barb grew up in Ayr and has been a long-time memer of the Ayr-Paris Band, for over 50 years.
She holds her Bachelor of Music Degree from McMaster University and a Bachelor's Degree in Educator from the University of Western Ontario. She spent most of her teaching career at Cecil Cornwell School and Ayr Public School.
Barb has been involved with many bands over the years. She also enjoyed singing for 25 years with the a Capella Celtic trio, Cavaan.
After retiring from the Waterloo Region District School Board in 2020, Barb moved to Cambridge and spends her time volunteering with seeral organizations, including Meals on Wheels.
In addition the Ayr-Paris Band, she is also a member of the Waterloo Regional Police Services Band.

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	Berry, Deb - 2018
Schmidt, George - 1996	Schmidt, Merry - 2003	Cain, Beth - 2019
Brunton, Ed* - 1996	Sippel, John - 2003	Emberson, Lillian - 2019
Brunton, Jeff - 1996	Ostner, Heidi - 2005	Read, Tim - 2019

*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, theayrparisband@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 theayrparisband@hotmail.com

This page was last updated September 22, 2026