Scout House scholarship applications now available

Students in Waterloo Region about to graduate from secondary school intending to enter a fulltime music program at community college or university have until Friday May 26 to apply for Wilf Blum Memorial Youth Music Scholarships of $200, with up to four awards to be presented at the Preston Scout House Band Inc. 85th anniversary free Community Open House on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Everyone in the community is welcome to attend the event, which will run from 1 to 7 pm.

Scholarship applications are available from music teachers at public and separate secondary schools across Waterloo Region. Eleven students from across Waterloo Region have received scholarships worth $10,250 since Scout House initiated the program in 2014.

The scholarship presentations will take place about 4 pm. Former scholarship winners will be introduced during the ceremony, which will also include the presentation of long service pins to current Preston Scout House Band Inc. members.

The Open House will include extensive displays of memorabilia, contest and travel highlights showing the history of the original Preston Scout House Band from 1938 to 1967, during the 1970s and ‘80s and alumni era activities beginning in 1993. The groups active during the alumni years include a Heritage Colour Guard and Drill Team, Preston Scout House Alumni Band, Silver Leaves Brass ensemble, Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps and Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard.
The Open House will also offer a wide array of memorabilia, opportunities for socializing, presentation of long service pins to current Scout House members, souvenir anniversary buttons and a wide selection of Scout House collectibles with donations welcomed. There will be a cash bar and outdoor barbecue.

Besides this being its 85th anniversary, Scout House is also celebrating another community milestone: the 50th anniversary of the City of Cambridge. The city was formed when Galt, Preston, Hespeler, and the Village of Blair were amalgamated in January 1973. Everyone is encouraged to attend the Scout House Open House and other community anniversary events over the coming weeks.

The first special event of the Scout House anniversary year took place in early March at Preston Legion, with Scout House Band donating brass instruments to be used by youth in Jamaica.

The internationally famous Preston Scout House Band began as an innovative new activity for members of the 1st Preston Scout Troop under the direction of local pharmacist and scoutmaster Wilf Blum. First rehearsals with instruments purchased through donations by local business leaders took place in the fall of 1938. By the mid-1950s, Scout House Band had grown to become one of the most successful and popular drum and bugles in North America.

Preston Scout House Band, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with registered charity status able to issue tax receipts to donors, incorporated under the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario on November 29, 1956.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email PSHBAND [dot] INC [at] outlook [dot] com