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, Traces Dance Band, The Ducats, Spirit of Newfoundland, and is currently playing bass and saxophone with Fahrenheit. 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, but began teaching at School of Rock in September of 2022.
Director Emeritus Dr. Edsel Bonnell
The founder of the Gower Band Program in 1973 and its Director until his retirement in 2018 is Edsel J. Bonnell, C.M., LL.D., APR, FCPRS(H). Dr. Bonnell was born in St. John’s, NL in 1935, and had a long career in media communications as a journalist, editor, publisher, and public relations consultant. He was the first consultant in Newfoundland and Labrador to earn professional accreditation (APR), and is an Honorary Member of the College of Fellows (FCPRS) and a Life Member of the Canadian Public Relations Society.
An ardent amateur musician and community worker, he was named St. John’s Citizen of the Year for 1984, a Member of the Order of Canada in 2001, a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International in 2002, and received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal the same year.
He was inducted into the Hall of Honour of the Kiwanis Music Festival of St. John’s in 2004, and received the CPRS Lamp of Service and Philip A. Novikoff Award in 2009. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland for his service to community as both a bandleader and in public relations.
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It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that Edsel Bonnell, founder and Director of the Gower Bands for 45 years, has passed away. He was 88 years old, and leaves behind a legacy of music and musicians almost beyond comprehension. Hundreds of GYB and GCB band members have played under his baton, and the path of each of their lives was made all the richer for that experience. More than a few of those band members went on to become professional musicians and educators, and influenced thousands more. You will find GYB and GCB alumni in almost every occupation, and in countries around the world, and they all share the ongoing love of music that was such a huge part of being in a band with Dr. Bonnell.
His song has not ended, it has merely changed key.
There was some media coverage in the week following Edsel's passing.
1.) John Bonnell was interviewed by Anthony Germain on "On The Go" Thursday, Feb. 15.
2.) Mike Herriott, Romano DiNillo, Ron Collins, and Erin Dawe were guests of Heather Barrett Saturday Feb. 17 on "Weekend AM".
3.) Heather Barrett has written a lovely article as well.
As per Mr. Bonnell's obituary, donations supporting the band's community service outreach are gratefully accepted by the Gower Community Band. E-transers can be sent to GowerBand@gmail.com. Our postal mailing address can be found on our Contact Us page.
The funeral service was live streamed, and is available for viewing (complete with the GCB Prelude HERE.
Edsel's Obituary is available here.
Director Ron Collins and Director Emeritus Dr. Edsel Bonnell in 2018.
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