The Orillia Silver Band is a brass band in the British Brass Band style. We perform regularly throughout the Orillia area and beyond at events that range from concerts to the annual Orillia Santa Claus Parade, the Highland Games and the convocation at Lakehead University. Our own concert series, held at the Orillia Opera House, includes fall, Christmas, Winter and Spring concerts. Our summer season sees us performing at parks and events throughout June, July and early August every year.
The band began over 70 years ago under the direction of Harry Peacock, a well-known figure in the Orillia music scene. The band continues to honour his legacy with an annual scholarship to assist one of our young members in their musical development.
Our current Music Director, Neil Barlow, has been with the band since 2013. After an extensive global engineering career, Neil and his family settled in the Muskoka area where he and his wife, Kim, have been involved in the local professional arts for many years. Along with is prowess as a brass player, Neil brings a wealth of knowledge about brass band and extensive experience as a conductor of all genres of music. He was the founding Music Director for the award-winning Five Lakes Brass Band in Michigan as well as currently directing the OSB, and working with the Clarkson Brass and Kingston Brass small ensembles.
