ABOUT THE BAND

The Band of the 5th (BC) Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery is an authorized band of the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve. It is the Land Force's resident military band in the provincial capital of Victoria, the only Reserve Brass-Reed Band on Vancouver Island, and has the distinction of being the oldest continually-operational military band organization west of Thunder Bay. Its primary functions are as both a concert band and parade band, but it also contains many smaller ensembles such as brass and woodwind quintets, a 10-piece mess dinner band, and a dance band. The band provides musical support for military and state functions as well as public performances.

The band consists of both Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reservists as well as associate members. Reservists commit themselves to join, train and serve on a part-time basis with the Canadian Armed Forces. Associate members are civilians military volunteers from the community who donate their time and skills in exchange for the opportunity to perform with a high-quality band in a variety of settings which are not usually available to civilian ensembles. When they are not working with the band, our members are also students, professionals, musicians, civil servants, nurses, bookkeepers, dog-groomers, teachers, and more.

The band is most active between the months of September to June, with rehearsals being held one night per week and one weekend per month in addition to performances. The Band is often busiest in November and December when they can be found performing Remembrance Day and holiday events. We join with the students of the Canadian College of Performing Arts in November in order to pay a tribute to our fallen comrades before performing in three different Remembrance Day parades around the region. In December, the Band supports the Regiment's Saint Barbara's Day Mess Dinner, the Mustard Seed Street Church's Annual Christmas Dinner in the Bay Street Armoury, and has also joined with the Mount Douglas Secondary and Spectrum Community School Senior Bands to perform a combined Christmas concert. In the New Year, the band can be found readying itself for its Annual Spring Concert, an annual tradition which has been running for over two decades. Toward the end of the season, the band supports the guns of the Regiment at the Victoria Day Gun Salute, now at the Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site. Fort Rodd Hill is where the 5th (BC) Field Regiment once manned the gun emplacements, and the Regiment pays homage to this with an appearance by the Regiment's guns and band on Canada Day for the salute at noon. This event also marks the final engagement for the band before they resume in the fall.  

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals are held on Tuesday from 1900 to 2200 (7 to 10pm) in Room 308 at Bay Street Armoury, located on 715 Bay Street Victoria. Entrace on Field St.

JOINING THE BAND

Anyone interested in auditioning for the band as either a Reservist or Associate member is encouraged to call the Band Orderly Room at (250) 363-8203 or email bandofthe5th@gmail.com. You will be contacted by a representative of the Band who will provide guidance and answer all of your questions.