• Reports from the 2009 Annual General Meeting

    2009 Student Recognition Award Luncheon Report
    NSBA Tech Support Report


  • Biographies

    Barbara Stetter President Barbara Stetter instituted a band program in the Glace Bay (NS) schools in 1973. Now there are four concert bands as well as jazz bands and choral and guitar ensembles in Grades 4-12 that have played across Canada and the U.S., including a performance by the H.S. Sr. Band at Carnegie Hall, in her hometown of New York, in 1997.

    Still active as an oboist and clinician, Barb received the NSBA Distinguished Band Director’s Award in 2007, and was honoured by the Cape Breton International Drum Festival in 2008 for her contribution to music in Cape Breton. Barb has previously served on the executive boards of the NSMEA, NSBA, and the NS Provincial Honor Band, and is currently president of the NSBA, Secretary of the CBA, and co-ordinator of the annual Cape Breton Regional MusicFest. This year she will also guest conduct the NS Jr. Wind Ensemble.


    Treasurer Kay Greene is the Music Teacher at t West Hants Middle School, in Brooklyn, Hants County, where over 200 students participate in the instrumental music program. She also volunteers her time on the weekends to the local Sea Cadet Brass and Reed Band, at the 76 Minas Corp, out of Windsor. She teaches adult beginner band at Acadia University on Wednesday evenings, as well as playing oboe in the Acadia Symphonic Band. On Saturday mornings, she plays bass clarinet in the Four Seasons Orchestra, conducted by Roger Taylor in Windsor.


    Lucille Humble is Member at Large, and will continue to assist in the area of email communications. She received her formal education in Alberta , and presently teaches grade 6-9 instrumental music at Sackville Heights Junior High School . Lucille is active as a percussionist, and performs regularly with the Sackville Community band and the Chester Brass.


    Jim FordeJim Forde was born in Vancouver, BC and raised in the Lower Mainland. He began his musical career in the Surrey Schools Concert Band under the direction of Don Murray. In 1964, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy and during a 30 year career in the Canadian Forces Band Branch Jim was a tuba player, drum major, public relations officer, instrumental instructor and training officer at the Forces School of Music. Between 1988 and 1993 he was Director of Music and Commanding Officer of the Stadacona Band in Halifax, NS.

    From 1998 to 2006 Jim acted as Managing Director of the Canadian Band Association’s National Youth Band of Canada. He is a Past-President of both the Canadian and Nova Scotia Band Associations and is currently a member of Scotia Brass, Principal Conductor of the Sackville Community Band and Production Coordinator for The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. In 2000, Jim was awarded the Nova Scotia Music Educator’s Musica Viva Award, in 2005, a Life Membership in the Nova Scotia Band Association and in 2007, the Canadian Band Association’s National Band Award.


    Mark Hopkins

    Past-President Dr. Mark Hopkins is an Assistant Professor in the School of Music at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is responsible for overseeing the Music Education area, teaching conducting, and is Director of Bands at Acadia University. He is founding director and lecturer of the Acadia University Summer Wind Conducting Symposium.

Our Mission

NSBA's mission is to support and promote the development of bands throughout the province of Nova Scotia through communication, coordination, program development, advocacy and lobbying at the provincial level.

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Past Presidents

2008 - 2009 Dr. Mark Hopkins
2005 - 2007 Ken Henderson
2001 - 2005 Andrew Alcorn
1999 - 2001 Jim Forde
1997 - 1999 Cyril Campbell
1996 - 1997 Gary Adams
1993 - 1996 Ardith Haley
1991 - 1993 Ronald MacKay

Lifetime Members

Bernie Burke *
Jim Forde
Terry Hill
Don Hughes *
Marlene Jackson
Brian Johnston
Ron MacKay *
Jean MacKenzie
George Morrison
Dr. Fred Prince *
Frank Ridgeway
Jim Williams

* Deceased