The King's Own Calgary Regiment Band

King's Own Calgary Regiment Band
The band at the Vimy Ridge Day Parade in Calgary, 8 April 2017.
Active	1910–Present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Army
Type	Military band
Size	35 members
Headquarters	Mewata Armoury, Calgary
Nickname(s)	KOCR Band
Website	http://kocrband.ca/
Commanders
Music Director	Captain Natasha Mellish
Notable commanders	Captain Hugh MacPherson[1]

The King's Own Calgary Regiment Band is the regimental band of The King's Own Calgary Regiment based at Mewata Armouries in Calgary, Alberta. It is currently one of two Primary Reserve bands in 41 Canadian Brigade Group and is the de facto military bands for the southern Alberta area.^[2] The regimental band is an composed of volunteer members, all of whom have completed the Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) and many of whom have studied and trained at the Canadian Forces School of Music at CFB Borden.^[3]

The band has the following ensembles:

• Wind Ensemble
• Brass Ensemble
  • Fanfare Team
• Percussion Ensemble

History[]

It was established in 1910, it served as the official band of the 103rd Regiment (Calgary Rifles), which was part of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. It originally consisted of members of the Calgary Fire Department and the Calgary Citizens Band. Following the outbreak of the First World War, many musicians of the band volunteered for service with 50th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, where they continued to serves as musicians, as well as medical personnel, stretcher bearers and stick orderlies. Unlike its service in the first war, the band did not deploy with the KOCR to Europe during the Second World War.^[4] The band gained new members in 1963 with the official disbandment of the Band of the Calgary unit of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps that year.^[5] In 1966, the band, then under the direction of Victor Wright,^[6] was dissolved by order of the Department of National Defense.^[7] It was reinstated in the early 1970s.

A decade later, the band stirred controversy when it performed its regimental march, Colonel Bogey March, during the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan Masayoshi Ōhira to Ottawa in May 1980, which was perceived as an insult as it was used in the movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, which depicted prisoners of war held under inhumane conditions by the Japanese.^[8][9] In June 1991, the band took part in the funeral of the John Michael Pierce, a British oil developer who died at a ranch in Turner Valley.^[10] In 1992, the band released its first and as of 2020, only album titled: A Salute To Canada's War Veterans On Canada's 125th Anniversary 1992.^[11] In May 2005, the band performed martial music at the Scotiabank Saddledome for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Calgary.^[12]

Modern day activities[]

The KOCR Band participates several activities:

• Military parade
• Regimental Dinners
• Concerts
• Regimental Holidays
• Presentation of Colours
• Funerals (state and regimental)^[13]

The 35-member band primarily performs as a concert and parade band and performs at military and provincial functions in the community.^[14] Besides musicians, members of the band are also trained as mechanics, as well as infantry soldiers. Being based in Calgary, it has performed in the city's many activities, including the Calgary Stampede and the St. George's Day parade. It also performs during events that are held on the national scale, such as Remembrance Day services and Canada Day parades.^[15] Local sporting events are often in its schedule, including games with the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers.

See also[]

• Royal Canadian Artillery Band
• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Band
• Regimental Pipes and Drums of The Calgary Highlanders
• 4 Wing Band

References[]