Mr. and Mrs. George Sainsbury
The WSB began as The Weston Boys Band, founded in 1921 by George Sainsbury. Sainsbury began his musical life playing in a fife and drum band in his hometown of Fawley, England at the age of 12. Before emigrating to Canada in 1905, he founded his own fife and drum band which became a Brass Band in Littlehampton, England ( later to become the present day Littlehampton Concert Band ).
Weston Town Band 1900
Shortly after his arrival, he became bandmaster of the Weston Town Band. The outbreak of World War I brought civilian banding to a halt and Sainsbury took charge of the 220th Battalion Band and later, the Headquarters Band of Military District No.2. In 1921, he established the Weston Boys Band which within a few years was renamed Weston Silver Band.
World War II saw the majority of band members enlisting in the armed forces and the band ceased operations for the first and only time in its history, becoming the official band of the Canadian Field Artillery, before reforming under Sainsbury’s baton in 1946. With instruments in poor repair and financial support a continuing issue, the band became incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1947.
From its top place finishes during the heyday of band contesting at the Canadian National Exhibition Band competitions in the 1960’s and 1970’s to its entry in the North American Brass Band Association’s competitions in North Carolina and Indianapolis in the 1980’s, the WSB continued to represent the proud tradition of brass banding in Toronto and the province of Ontario.
In 1995, the WSB hosted the NABBA competition in Toronto which saw 15 bands from Canada and the US competing for top honours. Later in the year, Weston was honoured to be one of two bands representing NABBA at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky.
US Open Brass Band Championships -2009
The past two decades have seen a revitalization of the band and organization, building a reputation for excellence musically as well as organizationally and receiving great reviews. Five-time winners of the Hannaford Cup (2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016), an annual Award of Excellence at Toronto’s Festival of Brass, as well as Best Soloist awards for members Brad Norton, cornet (2011) and Robert Miller, euphonium (2013) and Matt Ross (2015), the WSB has recently gained international recognition as a performing ensemble. In November 2009, the WSB became the first Canadian band invited to compete at the US Open Brass Band Championships, in Chicago, Illinois and placed third overall. In 2010, WSB Euphonium virtuoso Robert Miller was awarded US Open Best Soloist.
North American Brass Band Championships – 2015
In 2014, the WSB returned to competition at the North American Brass Band Championships after an 18 year hiatus, and is the first and only Canadian Brass Band to win section titles at the contest, winning first place honours in the 2nd section in 2014. Moving up to First Section in 2015, the WSB repeated their top prize winning result. Following a 2nd place finish in 2016, the WSB decisively reclaimed 1st place at The Championships in March 2017 and placed second in 2018. Weston Silver Band is the only Canadian Brass Band to ever win section titles at the contest.
In June 2017, Weston Silver Band appeared in one of the preeminent arts festivals in North America, Luminato Festival, in the DORA Award winning stage production of En avant, marche! , a performance praised by the Toronto Star as “poignant (and) captivating” and “spine-tingling” by The Globe & Mail. In June 2019, the WSB embarked on their first ever tour to Yorkshire, England, becoming the first Canadian Band to compete in the 134 year old Whit Friday Brass Band Contest, placing 18th out of 122 bands.
In November 2022 and 2023, the WSB returned to the US Open Brass Band Championships, held in Michigan, USA and placed 2nd in the Championship section and was presented with several additional recognition awards (Best euphonium/bari section, Best tenor horn/ flugelhorn section, Best performance of a March) as well as Best Soloist and Best Individual Performer for WSB Euphonium virtuoso Robert Miller. The WSB is currently ranked in the top 200 brass bands in the world (4bars rest ranking)
Presently, the WSB presents a concert series during the fall and winter season in Toronto at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio, and maintains a busy performance schedule in venues throughout the GTA and southern Ontario.
Richard Marshall with the WSB – 2011
Weston Silver Band has been the host to a number of internationally renown brass soloists and clinicians, including Doug Yeo (Boston Symphony), Richard Marshall (Principal cornet, Black Dyke Band UK), Paul Duffy, Heather Bambrick, TorQ Percussion, Samba Squad, Kevin Turquotte and legendary Canadian jazz artist, Guido Basso.
Brass bands have a long and proud history in Ontario and the WSB honours its history of providing a valuable and unique contribution to the rich musical heritage of this province. Our thanks to our supporters and we look forward to many more successful years of brass banding!
Weston Silver Band Conductors
1920 – 1950 George Sainsbury
1950 – 1955 Horace Sainsbury
1955 – 1956 Arthur Burgin
1956 – 1958 Albert Dobney
1958 – 1966 Wallace Mason
1966 – Ted Robbins
1966 – 1967 George Fitzgerald
1967 – Percy Merritt
1967 – 1969 George Swaddling
1969 – 1974 Wallace Mason
1974 – 1978 Laurie Hiscock
1978 – 1986 Douglas Field
1986 – 1989 Robin McCubbin
1989 – 1991 Morley Calvert
1991 – 2002 Ron Clayson
2003 – present Larry Shields
