The Portuguese Heritage Band Project (PHBP) symbolizes the beginning of a movement which aims to bring greater awareness to the future of Bandas Filarmonicas in Canada. Spearheaded by a group of young musicians from Ontario in 2006, these
first and second generation Portuguese Canadians were among the first to learn music and hone their skills within the Bandas Filarmonicas of Canada, and as a result have a strong desire to pass this musical tradition on to future generations. The Portuguese Heritage Band Project released a full-featured recording of original music written for the genre entitled
Across the Ocean: The Music of Bandas Filarmonicas (2007) recorded at the River Run Centre in Guelph, Ontario and subsequently performed a series of concerts to promote the project. It was aired on CBC Radio Two within one month of the release date.
The 2010 edition of the Portuguese Heritage Band Project is currently underway. The make up of this year's group includes thirty musicians representing seven bandas filarmonicas in Ontario. After a series of rehearsals over the winter months late in 2009, and a recording session which took place over the weekend of January 8th - 10th, 2010 at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario, the Portuguese Heritage Band Project will now release its second album, entitled
Across the Ocean 2: The Music of Bandas Filarmonicas -
Sacred and Secular.
Stay tuned for more information regarding the CD release, as well as upcoming concert dates and locations!
