Excellent! We're interested in having you. The Bands not only provides an amazing extracurricular reference, but also a social network between faculties and years. We're one of the most visible groups on campus, leading parades during frosh week, homecoming and home football games. We travel across Ontario following the Golden Gaels football team every second weekend, so it's an excellent experience for students to see Ontario, or just to have a free ride home! Starting in November, we perform in many Santa Claus parades South-Eastern Ontario, and even in the Toronto Santa Claus parade. The winter term is a lot lighter than the fall, with only an event every month or so. The winter term includes parades in small towns, one of our favorites is for the Maple Syrup Festival in the town of Delta.
Queen's Bands offers a unique opportunity to all of it's members because of the camaraderie created within its ranks. Bands Alumni return year after year to keep the bonds between the years of Bands strong. Since Bands is comprised of a range of Undergraduates and Graduates, the opportunity to network across the campus, faculties and even the world is a day-to-day occurrence within Queen's Bands.
Auditions are held on the evening and night of Tuesday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 12 - so remember to sign up for spots early to get one that is comfortable for you!
For a good reminder and to show your support, join our offcial Facebook Event!
Here are some details about each section of the Bands and what they might be looking for in prospective members. More details will be discussed at the info meeting on Monday, September 10th in Stirling Hall D (which is the circular building across from Victoria Hall), along with a Q&A session.
The Colour Guard are the people who hold the flags in front of the Bands during the Parades. As they are the first to be seen, they must be cheerful and outgoing. Our Colour Guards all have their happy faces on at all times! While no experience is needed (except the ability to walk), the Colour Guards have begun to learn routines with weighted flags - so if you have any experience with that you're almost guaranteed to get into Bands!
The Pipers are the only section that require more than minimal experience, and while experience is required, the range of skill in our Pipe Band is gargantuan, from world class to beginner, Queen's Bands a great spring board to take you into the world of Piping! Expect to have a piece prepared for your audition.
While most of the members of our Drum Corp come from a background in the Military Reserves or Cadets, we're open to anyone who has a passion for percussion, or even just a willingness to learn. Currently we're looking for those who can play snare, tenor and bass drums. But not all at the same time! The Bands Drummers are those who don't snap under pressure as "drum offs" between the Drums Corps of other Universities and RMC are a normal occurrence! Expect to have a piece prepared for your audition.
The Brass Band was the original part of Queen's Bands, with the other sections combining later to bring the Bands to its full 120 person glory! While it is called a "brass" band, woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, and saxophones) and other instruments (cymbals and glockenspiels) are key members of the Brass. Like all sections of the Bands the skill range is huge, from beginners to music majors, we accept those with a passion and a willingness to learn. Expect to have a piece prepared for your audition.
One of the more visible sections of the Bands, the Dancers perform at every event and during every parade. They are an integral part of Queen's Bands, and the Dancers also run a Highland Dance Club in the winter semester with a recital near the beginning of exams. If you cannot commit to the whole year, there's no reason why you shouldnŐt have a little highland dancing in your life! They are mostly comprised of women, but there is always a shortage of male Dancers. A Highland Fling will be taught to all prospective dancers before hand, as they will be expected to perform it during their audition. No experience is required.
Our Cheerleaders don't require as much commitment as the varsity team and promise twice as much fun! While no experience is required, the girls are expected to be tossed in the air and the men are expected to do the tossing, so fitness is a must.