A long-time local band will help kick-off a series of live concerts this summer.
The Cariboo Gold Dance Band is getting ready to perform a free concert on Thursday, June 27 on the Gwen Ringwood Stage in Boitanio Park at 7 p.m. The performance will mark to beginning of another summer season of Performances in the Park.
The band was formed in the fall of 1983 after the executive of the Stampede Committee approached members of the Williams Lake Community Band and asked if they could play any songs from the Big Band Era for a special Stampede Queen Ball. Over 40 years later, the band is still going strong with current members Michael Barbour, Rocco Catalano, Ingolf Sandberg and Murray Hoffmon.
"Of the original band, a few have passed, a few have retired, but there are still a few of us hanging in there," Hoffman said.
Hoffman is currently the music director of the band that has played hundreds of gigs over four decades, such as black tie affairs, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, and many fundraiser and community events, such as the Festival of Lights in Prince George in support of the University of Northern British Columbia's medical program, RCMP Ball, Wells Community Hall, Big Lake Fire Department, annual Clinton Ball, Discovery School of Dance in Kamloops, Quesnel Downtown Business Association and many others.
The band represented the Cariboo-Chilcotin at Expo 86 in Vancouver, combined with the Kamloops Big Band and several others multiple times to put on the Big Band Spectacular which was held annually in the late 1980s, and even organized a spring break trip down to Lake Tahoe in 1988 to perform for a week-long engagement at the Biltmore Hotel in North Tahoe.
Hoffman added that aside from the numerous events the band participates in, they also try to collaborate with different groups and artists every year.
"We also try to bring in a professional artist to work with the band each year," Hoffman explained. "There have been many well-known west coast musicians over the years."
Last year, they collaborated with saxophonist Ryan Oliver and this year they will be performing with trumpet player, recording artist and educator Nicholas Dyson in an upcoming concert in the Gibraltar Room on Nov. 9.
"We are always on the look out for other musicians in the community that might be interested in playing big bang, jazz and Latin charts and other genres," Hoffman said.
The Cariboo Gold Dance Band has been a long-time supporter of the music programs in the region's school districts. They have collaborated with elementary and secondary school bands for concerts and have provided students with the opportunity to play more challenging music and enhance their abilities.
