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Peterborough Ontario New Horizons Bands |
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Peter has been deeply involved with music ever since that first piano lesson on his 5th birthday. He added vocal lessons, theory lessons and church choirs to the schedule at age 8, and flute lessons at age 11 - the instrument which quickly became his dominant activity. After year of lessons in Hamilton he began 4 years of lessons with Nick Fiore in Toronto on scholarship from the Royal Conservatory. He started to teach flute at age 14 and completed the theory exams and his ARCT degree in piano by age 18. Spare time was spent playing in various bands and orchestras 6 days each week in the Hamilton area. The summer alternative to music was target shooting - at 16 he ranked 4th (cadet ranking) in Canada, earning him the right to represent Canada at the Bisley matches in England. By the time of his High School graduation Peter had performed with over 40 bands, orchestras and various ensembles in the greater Hamilton/Toronto area including the All Ontario Bands and Orchestras.
After a year at McMaster U. in Hamilton Peter married and moved to Youngstown Ohio as lead flute in the YSO, and Music Ed student at YU, where he graduated in 1961, Cum Laude. From there he moved, to Boston with his wife and 3 children, where he earned a MM degree at the New England Conservatory. Moving again, he took a teaching position at the new Crestwood HS in Peterborough ON, starting the music program and remaining there for the next 30 years. He retired in 1993 after a long and colourful career which included 2 years as an elected member of the local Bd. of Education, many teaching innovations, 27 international tours with his Wind Ensemble (12 - 14 days each), and for variety, building 2 houses by hand.
1971-2 was spent on full sabbatical doing Ph.D. (music ed) at North Texas State, a degree never completed due to a bad family car accident.
In 1993, after 30 years of teaching, it was time for a few years away from music...but not forever. In 1999 Peter started the Kawartha Wind Symphony, a very fine advanced adult performing ensemble, and the StarFire Band as a student counterpart. It was 2002 before meeting up with Roy Ernst in Rochester, and being introduced to the New Horizons concept. Within a month back in Peterborough the information meeting was held and 52 people signed up to get started in Peterborough's first Green Band.
This new band was so popular here that in just a few years there were 3 bands, a swing band, several small ensembles, and over 100 players. It was time to focus on PNHB and leave the other 2 organizations to others.
As of September, 2009, Peter and his staff of 11 conductors and coaches will be working with 4 bands, another Green band of nearly 40 members, and numerous smaller ensembles - a total of well over 200 players.
Peter and his wife, Judy, knew each other 36 years ago before their lives took them in separate directions. In 2005 they found each other again through a friend of Judy's who is in Peter's NHBand. They were married in January, 2006. Judy is an accomplished artist and retired registered nurse. After having lived many years in the Millbrook area, Peter and Judy have now moved into the west end of Peterborough and are very happy in their new home where they are closer to the activities of the city.
John began playing clarinet at age 8, taught by his father, and before long began playing in a local town band. Upon graduation John received the equivalent of a Master's Degree in Clarinet Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Utrecht, Netherlands. Following graduation came an invitation to become a soloist in the Canadian Armed Forces Band, and spent some time performing in Germany, Europe and the Middle East as part of the United Nations Emergency Force.
In 1962 John transferred to the Canadian Air Force Band. Upon leaving the Air Force he taught music at Central Technical School in Toronto, and while there enrolled a U of T to obtain teaching qualification. During that time he also performed often as a free lance musician at the Hummingbird Center, Princess of Wales Theatre, and other professional venues.
In 1967 John was invited to set up a music program at the new Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School in Peterborough. While teaching at TASS he was given the opportunity to join the RCMP Band as woodwind section leader, stationed in Ottawa. John received a Canada Council Grant to study flute with Norah Schulman (principal flute of the TSO), studied clarinet with James Morton (principal clarinet of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa) and with Anthony Gigliotti (principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Symphony). He also studied bassoon with Gerald Corey of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. John performed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, and with the RCMP Band traveled all over Canada, the USA and Mexico (1973 to 1976). Following the RCMP career John taught instrumental music at LCVI in Lindsay.
John was a founding member of the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and conducted the Peterborough concert Band for several years, while also playing in numerous other bands and ensembles. At present time John plays with the PSO, including on saxophone when needed. He plays tenor sax with the Royals Dance Band in Cobourg, and is clarinetist and assistant conductor with the Peterborough Concert band. He also often plays with the Ron Marenger big Band, and plays jazz at local venues.
Since 2002 John has been a pivotal leader with the Peterborough New Horizons Bands as both conductor, coach, and private teacher.
John is married and has a blended family of five children and five grandchildren (so far....).
Sal Castiglione received his Bachelor of Music in 1978 from the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. Prior to that in the 60s and 70s he played keyboard with various groups and studied Piano at the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music with renowned teacher Boris Berlin. Sal received his Bachelor of Education in 1979 and taught instrumental music for many years at Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville teaching Concert Band at the beginning, intermediate and senior level and Jazz Band. At that time Sal also conducted the Belleville Concert Brass that performed at Civic functions, Schools and Parks in the area.
Sal Castiglione moved to Peterborough in 1990 and conducted or produced many musicals including: Godspell, West Side Story, Oliver and Fiddler on the Roof. In 1996 Sal received his Master in Education Degree from O.I.S.E. (Ontario Studies in Education) and became Vice-Principal and then Principal of various Elementary schools in Peterborough.
Since joining the PNHB Sal has coached saxophone & clarinet sectionals and has conducted the Pine, Oak and Birch Bands on an on call basis. Sal currently coaches the flute sectionals in Green Band, continues to conduct on an on call basis and plays clarinet for the Birch Band.