About Us

The Second Wind Community Band was started in September 1993, by Laura Mercer who still serves as one of the band directors.  Of the 45 people who showed up for that first session, most could not read music and had never played a musical instrument before.  But we were keen and Laura was patient.  Today the band has over forty members, a second Conductor, Sean McLennon, and our musical level has (thankfully) improved where we're comfortable at tackling a B300 level of Band Repertoire.

Our band meets on Thursday evenings at Malcolm Munroe Junior High School in Sydney River at 7. We play at a variety of events and concerts. Second Wind supports two very special groups each year at our concerts. In the spring of the year, we support the L'arche Cape Breton Community where the members are accepted, celebrated and loved for what they can do, a motto that is so important in all we do. At Christmastime, we support the Every Woman's Center, Adopt-a Family program with presenting a concert and we are always supporting the Light Up a Life Campaign for Feed Nova Scotia and Foodbanks, with CBC Radio One in Cape Breton. For many years band members and our directors have attended the Annapolis Royal Community Band Fest. Many relationships with members from around the Maritimes caused an interest in hosting a Band Fest in Cape Breton.

Since 1998, Second Wind has sponsored the Cape Breton Community Band Fall Fest for the benefit of all Maritime community band members and bands. Band members from Halifax, Truro, Annapolis Royal, Glace Bay, Donkin and from PEI and New Brunswick have attended with very special conductors and clinicians.

Second Wind still has various levels of talent and experience:  from first time players to lapsed players who had musical training as children, to experienced performers, music educators, members of the Cape  Breton Orchestra and even a couple of professional musicians.  Whatever the level or reason for joining, we have become a closely knit and dedicated group, where rehearsals are considered an enjoyable social outing as well as a worthwhile musical learning experience.

The Second Wind is a second chance for us;  it makes us take time for ourselves out of our hectic schedules to sit down on a regular basis, pick up our instruments and practice.  Second Wind learned early in our development from a great Bandsman from Nova Scotia, Mr. Ron MacKay and from Laura, that "Music For Life" is a big part of our mandate. Come out and join us if you can!

Executive Board for 2010-2011

Chair - Jenny Addicott
Past Chair – Wayne McKay
Bandfest Chair – Elizabeth Buffett
Vice-Chair and Secretary - Oonagh MacMullin
Treasurer - Patricia Day
Social Convener - Kim Bungay
Librarian - Jane Day Smith
Public Relations - Louise McKenna, Debbie Rudderham and Laura Mercer

Website design by: James FW Thompson. 2009.