"President's Suite" :  A Tribute to Cyril Campbell

________________________________________________________________________________________________

In February, 1999, Cy Campbell reluctantly resigned as NSBA President due to ill health.  The NSBA owes a great debt to Cy for his outstanding leadership and progressive vision of what NSBA could become.  When Cy assumed the Presidency he accepted the challenge with enthusiasm and a sincere desire to see our association grow to its full potential.  Cy worked tirelessly and unselfishly for the NSBA and all its members.      I would like to share a few of the highlights of Cy Campbell's lifelong commitment to music, music education and to the youth of Nova Scotia and Canada.  Cy was born and raised in Halifax and in 1953 became one of the first candidates to enter the Royal Canadian Navy's new Bandsman Apprentice Programme.  Cy, and three other young Canadian musicians, became members of Class 1 at the newly formed School of Music at HMCS Naden, in Esquimalt, British Columbia.  After graduating, Cy returned to Halifax, where he served in RCN Bands at Stadacona, Shearwater and Cornwallis and in a variety of RCN Bands serving at sea.       Cy left the Stadacona Band in the early 1970's to assume the position of Bandmaster at Canadian Forces Base Greenwood.  While at Greenwood, he attended Acadia University and in 1976, after retiring from the Canadian Forces, accepted and instrumental teaching position in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.  Cy completed his music and teaching degrees at Saint Francis Xavier University and then began teaching instrumental music in Port Hawkesbury.  A short time later, Cy became involved in Canada's Cadet movement and spent many summers at Cornwallis as Officer in Charge of the Cadet Summer Music Programme.  Cy's well-respected leadership skills and strong commitment to youth resulted in his appointment as Camp Commandant, a position which he held for three consecutive summers and one which had never before been held by a Music Officer.      In Port Hawkesbury, Cy's Straight Area Region Educational Centre Bands became well-known throughout Nova Scotia for high quality performances and extraordinary involvement in their home community.  When the Maritime Band Association was formed, Cy quickly became a staunch supporter and spent a great deal of time ensuring that the Cape Breton Music Programs were recognized as an integral arm of that association.  With the formation of NSBA, and retirement from full time teaching, Cy became even more involved in our association's activities.       Cy Campbell contributed in a monumental way to the mission, ideals and goals of the Nova Scotia Band Association. Tribute by Jim Forde (May 1999) Cy Campbell was awarded Life Membership to the Nova Scotia Band Association in 1999.