GCB Directors

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.

Director Emeritus Dr. Edsel Bonnell

Director of the GYB and GCB from October 1973 to December 2018.