Holland College struck an inspirational chord this week when Mike O’Grady, Vice President of Innovation, Enterprise and Strategic Development announced the formation of the Holland College Concert Band. The band, which will start rehearsals in September, is open to students, alumni, staff, faculty, and anyone in the community who plays an instrument.

“We have been consulting with musicians within the college community and with students and music educators across the province. The tremendous response encouraged us to proceed,” O’Grady noted. “The possibilities are boundless. The foundation band will be a concert band, and depending on the interests and tastes of the musicians, it’s quite possible that we would be able to have other groups such as a jazz band, a rock band, a folk/traditional band and a pep band to play at Holland Hurricanes sporting events.”

The formation of the band is being spearheaded by highly-respected professional musician Alan Dowling, who is also an IT instructor at the college. Dowling has an impressive resumé, including playing drums with the ECMA Award winning group, The Jive Kings, performing with the Charlottetown Festival band at Confederation Centre for several summers, and drumming with the Doug Riley Trio. 

“We have many students, staff, and alumni who are very talented musicians. The band is a way to draw them all together and create something very unique. It will be a chance for all the musicians to showcase their abilities and learn from each other,” Dowling said.

The band is the revival of a tradition that started at the college’s Charlottetown Centre years before Holland College was established. Prince of Wales College, which used to occupy the downtown campus on Weymouth Street, had a band during the mid-1960s.

Rob Diamond, incoming president of the Holland College Student Union, plays several instruments himself. He said the formation of the band is a unique initiative, and one that’s sure to appeal to former high school band students.

“I think it’s brilliant. This shows how progressive Holland College is in constantly expanding its horizon. I have every intention of joining, and I’ll encourage other band students to, as well,” he said. 

O’Grady said a band leader will be engaged over the summer to lay the groundwork for the September start-up date. By the time most students come to the college in September, a core group of musicians should be in place to lead the band forward.

“While this is a band for the college,” he noted, “it is also a band for the community, and we encourage and welcome musicians from across the Island to join us in this exciting new venture.”

In this picture: Holland College Student Union President Elect Rob Diamond and Alan Dowling, well-respected local musician and IT instructor at the college, discuss the formation of the Holland College Concert Band.