The Orillia Concert Band
is celebrating 40 years,
and we want you to join us!
— submitted
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the Orillia Concert Band will celebrate its 40th anniversary milestone at its Spring Concert. The show will be held at St. Paul’s Centre in Orillia.
The planning is well underway for this celebration with guest artists, recognition of past conductors, memorabilia and much more.
Why is this such an important event?
The Orillia Concert Band has been an integral part of the Orillia music community since 1986. The band members have performed over 300 concerts (probably well over!).
Every year, the OCB kicks off the season in the fall with a benefit concert. This past year, they raised over $10,000 for Mariposa House Hospice.
In addition to its regular five regular concerts, the band brings the show to local care homes. They have played at most of the nursing homes in the area, at least the ones with a large enough venue.
Although there was a history of bands in Orillia, both the Orillia Kiltie Band and the Orillia Silver Band were no longer operating by the early 1980s. With three high schools that had flourishing music programs, there were a lot of eager band musicians in the community and no band to play in.
A conversation between Susie Horne and Stan Passfield brought up the need for a community band, and Bob Plunkett, a music teacher, had just retired and moved to Bass Lake. Stan thought he would be a good candidate for conductor and approached him.
Stan, Susie, and Jeff Day of the Packet and Times met with Bob and Gladys Plunkett to discuss the possibility. Gladys thought It would be a wonderful retirement project for Bob, and things started to happen.
Jeff Day put an article in the Packet to announce the formation of a civic band. A meeting date was selected and 55 people showed up in the music room at Park Street Collegiate Institute in Orillia. Rehearsals began immediately and, like many other bands, they rehearsed on Monday nights.
The first concert was a benefit concert for the Heart and Stroke Society in February 1987. By the time the summer rolled around, they had played five concerts in the area including in places such as Midland, Gravenhurst, and Orillia. There was also a concert at the Aqua Theatre and to this day, the Orillia Concert Band performs at the Aqua Theatre every June.
During the years, practice venues and performance venues have moved, but for the past few years, the band makes its rehearsal home at St. Paul’s Centre in Orillia.
There has also been a turnover of conductors. Over the years, Orillia has been fortunate to have truly excellent conductors. They are, in order, Bob Plunkett, Roy Menagh, James Hilts, and currently the band is under the baton of Randy Hoover, who has been a vital part of the Orillia music scene for many years.
If you want a taste of what’s coming, join them on March 7, 2026, for Around the World in Eighty Minutes, a concert taking a whirlwind musical world tour. Check out the Orillia Concert Band website for more information on all upcoming events, and see you there!
