GCB Director Ron Collins

Ron Collins has been surrounded by music his whole life, starting with his childhood home where his father played the piano. He joined the school band when he was 10 years old, and bands have been a constant in his life ever since. He graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1987 with his B.Mus./ B.Mus.Ed. with a major in saxophone, and added a M.Ed. in 2007.

Ron’s life as a musician has included concert bands, jazz bands, jazz combos, rock bands, pit orchestras, and dinner theatres playing both saxophone and bass guitar. He has played with the Gower Youth Band and Gower Community Band, Jazz East, Fahrenheit, Traces Dance Band, The Ducats, and Spirit of Newfoundland. As a music teacher, he has covered Kindergarten to grade 12 in many areas of the province.

Ron has directed several community based groups including Jazz Unlimited, Jazztyme, and Jazz East. He was the Associate Director of the Gower Community Band for over 20 years, and became Director in January 2019 following the retirement of Dr. Edsel Bonnell. He was a music teacher and band director at various schools in the province, most recently at Holy Trinity High School in Torbay. He retired from his teaching career in June 2020.

Peter’s lifelong fascination with music-making began in 1972, with a performance by the Canadian Brass at his Toronto area elementary school. This encounter inspired him and led to a long career in the music products industry, where he focused on supporting school music programs and musicians in Ontario and across the country.

Peter spent several years as an army reservist musician, playing at ceremonial events with the

Governor General’s Horse Guards, among others. As a performer, sideman, and bandleader, Peter’s varied experiences have ranged from military bands to countless hours of polkas and waltzes at Oktoberfest events, to soul and funk with the Cosmo Soul Express, and even a stint with the Guy Lombardo’s Royal Canadians tribute.

In 2009, Peter collaborated with the York Regional Police Service (Aurora, ON) to establish a youth concert and marching band. He directed the YRP Youth Band until 2022. Later that same year, Peter “came from away” to settle in Petty Harbour, NL. He is very pleased to have found musical homes in both the CLB Regimental Band and the Gower Community Band, where he is honoured to assist Ron Collins in continuing the legacy that began with Dr. Bonnell more than fifty years ago.

Dr. Edsel Bonnell was the Director of the GYB and GCB from October 1973 to December 2018. Upon his retirement as Director at the end of 2018, Dr. Bonnell was awarded the title of Director Emeritus. He passed away on February 7, 2024 at the age of 88. Please see this page for more information about this outstanding man.