Frank Connell

The Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival is honoured to be able to remember music educators who have passed, but not before leaving a legacy of making a difference in music education in the province.

Frank Connell was born in Schotts, Scotland and began his musical training from his father, a cornet virtuoso. He qualified for his Bandmastership in 1946 from Kneller Hall which led to appointments with several British military bands prior to moving to Moose Jaw in 1958 to become director of the Moose Jaw Lion’s Junior Bands.

Frank’s enthusiastic guidance, untiring efforts, and inspiration culminated in leading the Lion’s A Band on trips overseas in 1964 and 1970, when they were guest band at the Edinburgh Royal Highland Show and received a gold medal at the International Festival of Music in Kerkrade, Holland. In 1973 Mr Connell moved to Red Deer, AB to become director of bands.

Mr Connell founded the Saskatchewan Music Camps which later became known as the Saskatchewan School of the Arts. 1965 & 66 witnessed the real beginning of the school when the band programme was joined by orchestra, drama, writing, and painting. Frank was the director of the school until 1972. Throughout all of this, he was in demand as a clinician, served as a member on the Saskatchewan Arts Board, was President of the Canadian Bandmasters Association, was awarded the Order of Canada, and voted citizen of the year in both Moose Jaw and Red Deer.

Mr Connell passed away on January 19, 1979. His influence as a music educator has had a huge ripple effect, with many of his students becoming music educators, professional performers, and composers but, most importantly lovers of music.