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Welcome to the Georges P. Vanier Junior High School Band Program.
Our director is Ms. Meg Ferguson (she/her/elle) and she has taught instrumental music with HRCE for more than 25 years, and has been at GPV since 2020. Contact info: FergusonM@hrce.ca.
We have band classes in grades 6, 7, and 8, as well as extra-curricular ensembles to enrich students' music education, such as jazz band, tour band, and percussion ensemble.
Unveiling our New Beginner Band Book!
We are super excited to include this incredible, versatile, and well-conceived methods book in the GP Vanier Band Program! This book will be used through grade 7 & 8 band as well. Please note that Long & McQuade does not carry many regularly, so advance orders are the way to go - or try a different online retailer.
Can't wait for our new bandies to learn from this resource!
4th Annual Craft Fair Oct 17 & 18, 2025 - Call for vendors!
Join us for the Georges P. Vanier Junior High Craft Fair, a vibrant celebration of local talent and community spirit in support of our school band program!
Come explore an incredible variety of handmade goods, tasty treats, and unique gifts from Nova Scotia crafters and entrepreneurs — all while helping young musicians thrive.
🗓️ October 17 & 18, 2025
📍 Georges P. Vanier Junior High, Fall River, NS
Want to be a vendor? We’re now accepting registrations!
👉 Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HcGkPkULl6-Z-c5RgULgtufzKlu1B1Njyecc8eyhA3s/edit?usp=sharing
👉 Registration Form: https://forms.gle/AuFZHgooLMPQuF6F9
Senior Band Trip Album
They’ve finally arrived — your official Senior Band Trip album is ready to pick up!
Swing by the band room to grab your personal copy and relive all the unforgettable moments, epic laughs, and musical memories.
Bonus: There are blank pages at the back for you and your bandmates to write in your own trip stories, inside jokes, and favourite moments. Start your own band yearbook, one signature at a time!
Final Concert & Awards Night 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025 6:30pm
Families need to register for tickets for our concert. This is in effort to have fewer folks standing during the concert. Check your email for information and a Google Form.
Students should arrive by 6pm in their designated room - all black, cool clothing.
Set & Strike / Tech Crews look for an email for rehearsal / concert sign up times.
Bandies check the schedule in the band room for full band rehearsals - times and locations since the band room isn't big enough for some of our groups.
Can't wait to show your families how much you have improved!!
New Logo - This one will be around for a while!
This design is what our students wore in Quebec City.
Band students were able to order their very own in tshirt or hoodie version. The order was placed and should arrive in June.
We will use this same logo in the fall - what kind of swag would you like to see?
Senior Band Trip to Quebec City
Our Senior Band had an incredible experience in Quebec City.
They performed in 2 schools, enjoyed workshops, heard a local stage band in La Pocatiere, had an inspiring rehearsal at l'Espace Symphonic de Levis, then enjoyed cultural, historical, and touristy experiences around the city.
Instrument Selection at Feeder Schools
Each year, the grade 5s from Oldfield Consolidate, Ash Lee Jefferson, Holland Road, and Waverley Memorial Elemetnary Schools are visited by our Band Program to introduce them to the instrument choices for grade 6. This year, we were also able to have each student try out a few different mouthpieces to find out which ones may suit them best. It was so fun meeting all our future bandies and start their journey into band!
Spotify Bingo Fridays at lunch
During January & February, we are hosting Spotify Bingo in the band room on Fridays at lunch.
All students are welcome!
Winter Wonderland Concert
Tuesday December 10, 2024 at 6pm
Georges P Vanier Auditorium (a.k.a. the gym)
Silver collection at the door
Featuring:
Grade 6, 7, 8 Bands; Tour Band; Jazz Band; Percussion Ensemble
Guests: Lockview Jazz Band under the direction of Mrs. Burtt
Thank you to all the family members who volunteered to chaperone!
Tiny Desk Concerts
During November and December, we are hosting recorded concerts known as "Tiny Desk Concerts" in the band room at lunch.
The schedule of who is playing when can be found on the bulletin board outside the music room.
All students are welcome!
Announcing our Music Leadership Team 2025
We are thrilled to introduce the successful applicants for this year’s Music Leadership Roles, including Band Librarians, Tech Crew, and Set & Strike Crew!
These student leaders play a crucial role in the success of our busy band program. From organizing music and gear, to prepping events, managing tech, and ensuring concerts run smoothly—they are the behind-the-scenes heroes who help make it all happen. Their dedication saves hundreds of hours throughout the year, allowing our program to offer more opportunities, more performances, and more music.
View successful applicants here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hvbZP6Tsihbj_Dxn1mqA4kavgXW2mvzh5uL2uKd3d-0/edit?usp=sharing
Beginner Band Camp 2024
GP Vanier & Leslie Thomas Junior Highs joined forces and had a marvelous time learning + making friends at our Beginner Band Camp Saturday October 5th. The brass section opened with a fanfare, Jaws & Baby Shark made appearances, and we ended with the ever-popular "We Will Rock You." Thank you's go out to Mrs. Leader from LT, and our student volunteers!
Final Concert & Awards 2023
Congratulations to our musicians and celebrity artists, alike!
All of our musical ensembles performed to a packed house. Grade 6 Band was thrilled to have Mr. Pat Healey from the Fall River Laker guest conduct and the Grade 8s were pleased to invite Mme Peverill to the percussion section! Way to go, everyone!
Final Concert & Awards Night
The final concert and awards night has been rescheduled from June 1 to Thursday June 8th.
Looking forward to hearing all the terrific work our young musicians have accomplished this year, as well as honour those who stand out as dedicated musicians and outstanding leaders in our program. Many awards are peer-nominated, others chosen by the music director.
Spoiler alert: There may even be a guest conductor at the show!
Senior Band Trip to Fredericton, NB a Great Success!
The Senior Band had a terrific musical journey to Fredericton where we performed with George St Junior High School, had a workshop with Mr. Hugh Kennedy, and a concert with Fredericton Concert and Marching Band at Fredericton High School. Thanks to all those who help make the excursion a possibility!! <3
We have a new logo:
In preparation for our senior band trip, we have a new logo that will be part of our casual uniform: navy blue tshirt with the logo.
See photo of bandies above.
Tour Band earns GOLD at Atlantic Festicals of Music
Congratulations to the Tour Band & members of our Percussion Ensemble who participated at the Atlantic Festivals of Music April 26th in Halifax at Mount St. Vincent University. We were thrilled to have a workshop with Dr. Mark Hopkins from Acadia University after our performance.
Music for a Winter's Eve Dec 2022
What a wonderful evening for students to share with famlies how far they have progressed since our last concert in June. We were so pleased to have the Lockview High School Jazz Band join us - thank you Mrs. Burtt! Grade 6 band played in their first full GPV concert, Percussion Ensemble performed an original work, Jazz Band featured a solo by Megan Hart, Grade 8 Band highlighted Ukranian culture with "Carol of the Bells," Grade 7 Band delighted the audience with "Skye Boat Song," and the whole evening was kicked off by a joint effort from Tour Band & Senior Band with an opening fanfare called, "Joy!" Congrats to all!
Fundraising Auction
Thank you for your incredible support of our Fundraising Auction that took place in December, 2022! We had a grand time and raised over $3,000 for our Senior Band Trip that is taking place in May, 2023.
First Annual Fall Craft Fair
Our school gymnasium was filled with local, talented craftspeople and their various products on Friday Nov 4 and again Saturday Nov 5. Thank you to those who dropped in to support local + student vendors! This fundraiser went toward our Grade 8 Band Trip.
Thank you to Pat Healey and the Laker News who reported on our event. Link to article.
Beginner Band Camp 2022
What an incredible experience for our beginners to be taught by professionals of their instrument at our first Beginner Band Camp that took place Saturday October 15th. Students had about a month's worth of instruction in one day!
Clinicians included Melanie Rozee, Christina Muise, Leslie Smith, Andrea Schofield, Jill Oxford, Jamie LeBlanc, Dina Burtt, Joe Cormier, Nathan Beeler, and Tom Cuming. Huge thanks to the grade 7 & 8 band students who volunteered to set up, be guides, and put everything away afterward.
Extra Curricular Ensembles 2022 are underway!
Jazz Band Tuesdays after school
Tour Band Wednesdays before school
Percussion Ensemble Wednesdays after school
About Ms. Ferguson (she/her/elle)
Born + raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Ms. Ferguson graduated from Acadia University with both music and music education degrees. Her first public education post was at A.J. Smeltzer Junior High School (along with its feeder schools) in Lower Sackville and so she decided to stay in Nova Scotia, settling in H.R.M. She is thrilled to be teaching 100% music/band at Georges P Vanier and looking forward to getting to know the Fall River community.
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