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Musician, composer, and music educator Bert Tersteeg recently donated two original compositions of band music to the Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵWelshmen Community Band.

Alan Dowling, the college band director was very excited when Tersteeg approached him about donating the music and arrangements. Tersteeg had written a march a few years ago and had it recorded by the Stadacona Navy Band in Halifax. The march never had a title, but Tersteeg has called it the Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵWelshmen March. Through further discussion, Tersteeg was inspired to complete Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵSporting Song, a full band arrangement, when he heard that the band would be performing at the Holland Hurricanes’ men’s and women’s basketball games against Mount Allison this Saturday night. The Sporting Song will become the new Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵsong to be played when the band performs at athletic events.
 
Alan Dowling expressed his appreciation for Tersteeg’s generosity.

"The donation of these two pieces to the Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵWelshmen Community Concert Band is overwhelming. The band members and I sincerely thank Bert Tersteeg for this opportunity to play music that was written by a local composer,” he said.

“Things have come full circle in two ways with this donation. Bert was my orchestration and arranging professor at UPEI and many years ago, I would hand him orchestra arrangements as homework. Now he is handing arrangements to me to play with the new Holland »¢Ñ¨ÊÓƵBand. Secondly, Bert was the person who started the first music program at Saint Dunstan's University, and he is now donating his compositions to the first band to exist at Holland College. After having studied music with Bert, we performed on many occasions together in different ensembles ranging from a Dixieland band to the local symphony orchestra. We're very grateful to Bert for these special contributions to our music library."