Updated As of March 16, 2026
NANAIMO CONCERT BAND ANNOUNCES
MUSIC DIRECTOR CHANGE FOR 2025-2026 SEASON
Early in the new year, we received some unfortunate news from our much-loved Music Director, Dr. John Churchley. John advised us that due to ongoing hearing loss he had made the difficult decision to rescind his intention to continue with the band for the current and upcoming seasons. John has been leading the band to the delight of our audience since the Fall of 2024. John’s positivity and passion for Community Based music shone brightly. He invested an incredible amount of time and energy helping us to continue to build on the successes of the Nanaimo Concert Band.
Thank you, John, we will miss you and wish you all the very best.
NANAIMO CONCERT BAND ANNOUNCES MUSIC DIRECTOR SCOTT MACINNES
On January 26 we were delighted to welcome Scott MacInnes to the podium as our Music Director. Scott brings with him a wealth of musical experience, skills and abilities.
His warm and positive spirit toward music making is inspirational. We are enjoying our rehearsals with Scott and look forward to sharing him with our audience.
Tracy Harvey
President – Nanaimo Concert Band Society
Scott MacInnes
Brief Biography
Scott MacInnes has become a leader in the musical community as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger and clinician. In the fall of 2005 Scott moved to British Columbia to play bass trombone for a season with the Victoria Symphony. The following year he joined both the University of Victoria as an instructor and the Vancouver Island Symphony (VIS). Scott takes great pride in his position as Principal Bass Trombone with the VIS and has been fortunate to not only perform as a soloist and chamber musician with the VIS, but also to conduct his esteemed colleagues. At UVic he teaches private trombone lessons, the Business of Music course, as well as conducts the big band, brass choir, trombone choir and Vikes Band.
Beyond the university, Scott can be seen performing with a variety of groups ranging from jazz and rock bands to chamber groups such as iTromboni (North America’s only professional trombone quintet) and the Pinnacle Brass Quintet of which he a founding member. Helping to build community, he is also the Artistic Director of the BC Brass Collective as well as the Meridiem Wind Orchestra. Scott is constantly striving to bring the highest quality music to the greatest number of people.
Education:
University of Victoria Masters of Music ’11
University of Toronto Bachelor of Music Performance ’04
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Nanaimo Concert Band is pleased to announce its 2025-26 Season!
Our Music Director Dr. John Churchley has lined up an exciting season of music for the Nanaimo Concert Band to perform in 2026-2026. Each concert has a theme to connect the musical selections of traditional band pieces, classical transcriptions, show tunes, movie themes, pop music, and marches.
“It was a dark and stormy night.” Fall Concert – Sunday November 2, 2025
2:30pm Port Theatre – Tickets: $25 (Student $15)
Our fall concert is on the same weekend as Hallowe’en, so we couldn’t help but choose some music that’s dark and mysterious. Whether it’s music from a spooky movie or musical, or music about dark rain clouds and storms, come prepared to be chilled, thrilled, and entertained. We might have a happy ending or two just to balance things out.
A Winter’s Journey Christmas Concert – Sunday December 7, 2025
2:30pm Beban Park Auditorium – FREE ENTRY – food/$ accepted for Salvation Army Food Drive
Travel with us, as we musically trace Santa’s journey from the North Pole and the more serious journey of the Christ child at Bethlehem. You’ll hear all of your traditional Christmas favourites with some musical twists and turns as we toboggan down the slopes of our journey.
Adventures in Space and at Sea Spring Concert – Sunday April 26, 2026
2:30pm Port Theatre – Tickets: $25 (Student $15)
Adventure is a combination of fear, anticipation, and excitement as explorers venture out into the great unknown. Nowhere has inspired great books, films, and music more than the uncharted ocean and the infinity of space. Our concert will provide a taste of this excitement with music from films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Interstellar, as well as music inspired by space and the sea including Holst’s Planets.
Make ‘em Laugh! Summer Concert – Monday July 13, 2026
6:30pm Maffeo Sutton Park – FREE
Music and comedy go together like Laurel & Hardy and Wayne & Shuster. Music can make you laugh or it can accentuate the antics of the comedians that it accompanies. The Nanaimo Concert Band is going to make you smile this summer with some musical hilarity. You’ll hear your favourite TV comedy themes, music for circus clowns, and some musical humour from Spike Jone’s antics to Leroy Anderson’s typewriter.
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