Skip to main content
HomeGold Band


" ... for the love of music."

135A6601-Pano

2022 LCBS GOLD BAND - conductor Mark Ward


The LCBS Gold Band was the first ensemble of the LCBS having begun January 22, 1987 .  It's founding conductor was the late Robert M. Cook, conductor emeritus.  "Bob " as he was known to all had a long and prestigious band history beginning in the United States and moving to Alberta where during the Lougheed years served as a Deputy Minister in the Department of Culture. In due course he was engaged by the Department of Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge.

Bob's ambitions for the concert band were high and he attracted a wide range of musicians.  He served for 10 years at the podium.  And has been followed by a variety of conductors over it's several decades of performance.

The band went on to win wide recognition at festivals, tours and in the performance of school public and civic events. For a history of accomplishments of the Gold Band   CLICK  below  .

The Gold Band was structured to provide an opportunity for experienced players to resume a perhaps dormant music life, and it succeeded.  Other ensembles were introduced in the years following that attempted to meet various interests, social and playing levels.

This band meets Wednesdays at CASA at 7:00 pm.

MARK WARD - Mark is the current conductor of the LCBS Gold Band. He assumed full podium duties in the spring of 2017. In the tradition of all Gold Band conductors Mark has taken the band to ever new heights and experiences. Perhaps the highlight to this point occurred in the summer of 2019 when Mark lead the Gold Band on a tour of Scotland where the band was able to share its talents in churches, castles, concert halls with a home base of the University of Edinburgh.


Mark has a long history of involvement in community music bands and other organizations. He conducted the Abbottsford Concert Band for 10 years, joined as a singer and performer in countless choirs , bands, orchestras and in musical theatre. Mark was Music Educator at Cresent Heights High School in Medicine Hat where he conducted eight highly acclaimed musical productions.


Mark received his Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) in 1980 at Western University, London, Ontario, Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) at U of L in 1981 and his Master of Music, Trumpet Performance and Conducting in 1992 at the University of Victoria.



Music Repertoire History of the Gold Band


Repertoire of Gold Band Performances

Events and Achievements History


CLICK TO VIEW