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Ted Dawe studied clarinet in grade 5, and soon had thoughts of becoming a professional musician, which he became at the age of 17. Two years later, a permanent injury to his right wrist precluded him from continuing as a professional musician. He left music behind for a while and perused other opportunities. For example, he furthered his academic studies in Cultural Geography, became an entrepreneur of wholesaling gems, started three art galleries, and was a music teacher.
Ted's retirement speech, with Ruby the dog. Maffeo Sutton Park, June 2019
As a music teacher, Ted taught school in Surrey, Prince George and Hope before settling in Nanaimo. In the 1980’s among years of budget cuts, Ted taught music in many elementary schools within the district. Indeed, Ted’s teaching at one point expanded to 26 elementary schools with one lesson a week. In 1986 Ted created Mid-Island Music Enterprises to offer band to students and their parents who were unable to study band in the school system.
By 1989, his bands had over 200 members. As the bands grew, parents now wanted a band for themselves to perform in. Filling this need was the Dixieland band, the Big Band, and the Mood Swings.
The name of the bands eventually changed to Nanaimo Community Bands. By 2000, Ted was no longer teaching in the school system, which gave him time to work to grow and evolve the community bands. In 2018, after 32 years of dedicated service to community bands in Nanaimo, Ted retired and handed the baton to Jill Mont.
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