Harmonie Brass Showband

The Harmonie Brass  Showband was founded almost 50 years ago originally as a fanfare corps as part of the German Mardi Gras movement. It's first public appearance was in November of 1969 at the opening of the Carnival season at the Harmonie club on Sherbourne Street. For many years it performed at various functions usually related to Carnival as a showband at intermissions of the regular band. The band consisted mostly of players who had little or no musical training but they still put on a good show and had a lot of fun doing so.

In 1974 following a tour of Germany the membership dropped to a very low level but it staged a comeback by recruiting younger players from Northern Secondary School in Toronto. One of the Trumpet players was a teacher there. Three of those members are still in the band as of today.The musical direction of the band began to change and they started playing mor"danceable" music. 

In 1981 during another tour of Germany, the members decided to change their name to reflect the type of music that they were playing. After a discussion at a local pub in Heidleberg the name Harmonie Brass was chosen. With a change in management and the addition of some new players the direction of the band beagn to change. Big Swing Tunes and 50's and 60's rock and roll were added to the repetoire.

After 2 more tours of Germany and apperances at Ontario Place, Sky Dome, Palais Royale and some of Toronto's major hotels, the band had gained a loyal  following, not only in the german community but the Canadian and corporate circles as well. The band made Scarborough's "Blue Danube Club" their home for many years under the leardership of Joe Schick to promote traditional and contemporary German music while at the same time augmenting  it's repetoire with new arrangements of old favorites and the latest hits.

Highlights from the past years include headlining "German Day" at the Candaian National Exhibition, performing at Walt Disney World in Florida as well as being first to perform in  Mississauga's new Living Arts Center.