1949-1967: Annual Children's Concerts

The old Public School Children's Concert

Did you know there was an annual public school children's concert? Well, if not, there was. It was held in the month of June when all the children from all the public schools in Galt paraded from the Market Square to Dickson
Park for their annual singing concert.

Myself and Bet both remember marching to Dickson Park when we attended public school here. In later years I remember being in two bands which participated -- these were the G.C.I. Cadet Bugle Band and also our own Galt Kiltie Band.

Our bandmaster, Mr. Wm.(Bill) McFadyen, a church organist and music supervisor of Galt public schools "spearheaded" this event and the Kilties led the parade many times. A different band led each school -- some were Salvation Army Band, Preston Legion Band, G.C.I. Cadet Bugle Band, Kiwanis Youth Band, Highland Fusiliers Of Canada pipe band, Guelph Optimist Junior Band and of course, the Kilties.

Mr. McFadyen was our bandmaster from 1949 to 1956 and he was with the KILTIES on parade and directed the mass choir after. Quite a job to conduct over 2000 pupils at once, let alone teach them! He died suddenly at the age of 66 in
October of 1966.

In the Galt Reporter, Tues. June 20,1967 a heading read "CHILDREN'S VOICES THRILL MASS CROWD" -- it goes on to say about the Monday concert:

2,100 voice choir from the Galt Public Schools
Over 5,000 spectators were there
Seven Bands participated
M.P. Max Saltsman and M.P.P. Alan Reuter were there
A tribute to Bill McFadyen was observed as he was, quote
"the man who started this thing years ago"
Bill Lethbridge trained and conducted the pupils
Ken Hurst played accompaniment on the organ -- and the
crowd watched spellbound as the children sang to
celebrate Canada's Centennial
Years ago Bette received a Christmas present from her
brother, Lawrence. What was it? -- a record titled
"MASSED CHOIRS - GALT PUBLIC SCHOOLS - CENTENNIAL
CONCERT - DIXON PARK 1967. It sounds beautiful. Isn't
it just a shame that the school annual concert is no
more -- just like the tatoos -- but that's another
story.

Sources:

Galt Kiltie Band Newsletter: Issue #6, spring 1995, written by Bob Fox

Retyped and posted to the web by band member, Graham Nasby, in 1999.

Reformated for new website on April 3, 2005.