News
A Christmas Celebration by the Centralaires at the Canada Aviation Museum

Dec. 1, 2008, Ottawa—On Sun., Dec. 14,  the Canada Aviation Museum will welcome the Centralaires Concert Band for another great season of performances. The series will be launched in a festive spirit with “A Christmas Celebration” offered with special guest, the Kanata Choral Society.

The sixty-minute performance will start at 2 p.m.  Established in 1986, the Kanata Choral Society has been a part of the cultural scene in the Kanata area. This group of dedicated volunteers shares a common passion for choral music. Under the direction of Gloria Jean Nagy, the singers entertain audiences with a wide variety of choral repertoire from the Baroque period to contemporary music. The forty-five-member choir enjoys working with some of the region's finest soloists and instrumentalists. The Centralaires Concert Band is already well known and appreciated by the Museum’s visitors as the group has been performing for the past five seasons at the Museum.

The band, conducted by Major Fran Chilton-Mackay, was formed as a result of two reunions of former members of the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force) Central Band and the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 and again in 1993. Retired members from all of these past and present bands, former RCMP Band and Governor General's Foot Guards Band members, as well as music teachers and other talented local musicians have come together to create the Centralaires. The band is an affiliate of the Air Force Association of Canada. Three other concerts will follow in 2009: 15 February – In the Mood to Swing – with special guest, the Grey Jazz Big Band 29 March – Musical Memories 31 May – A Flying Salute

The Canada Aviation Museum is Canada’s finest aviation museum with an internationally reknown aeronautical collection. The Museum is located at the intersection of the Aviation and Rockcliffe Parkways. Admission is $6 adults; $5 for students; $5 for seniors; and $3 for children 4-15; free for children under 4. A family pass is $14. Free parking. OC Transpo bus #129 Rockcliffe also goes to the Museum.