REGINA’S MUSIC MAN
Longtime music teacher/educator Bob Mossing, 85, sits in Lakeview United Church where he will lead the last concert of the Mossing School of Music on Sunday.
Bob Mossing is ready to turn the page on another chapter in his storied musical career.
Over the years Mossing has been a driving force for the Lions Club Band, the Rider Pep Band, and more recently, The Mossing School of Music. The curtain will drop on The Mossing School of Music on Sunday with a final concert at Lakeview United Church.
Mossing, who opened his school in September 2005, felt that the time was right to end the organization.
“I’m 82 years old and I’ve been teaching for 62, so I guess I finally got it right or maybe I just can’t get it right,” he said with a laugh.
The reality of the situation, however, came down to economics.
“Our membership was going less and less each year and expenses were going up, so the board and myself decided it was just not feasible,” explained Mossing. “It’s a stress and I’m at an age where I don’t want stress, so decided this was the time.”
The Regina Lions Club Band was started by Marion Mossing, Bob’s mother, in 1946 in the family kitchen. A.B. Mossing, Bob’s father, was also involved and before long the organization became a popular outlet for Regina youngsters.
In September of 1976, the organization had 500 members in the Junior Lions Club Band, and over his years of involvement with the organization — Mossing and the RLCB parted company in May 2005 — it’s estimated he taught more than 12,000 students.
“At one time, we had 150 in the A Band, we had 125 in the B Band, we had over 100 in the C Band and then 80 in the beginners program," said Mossing. “And all of that was from just one band program. I can remember going to the Moose Jaw Band Festival where we had 500 soloists. That’s how times have changed. We didn’t even take attendance at practice because we had enough to make a band so away we went.
“Those were the good old days, the band going to the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, three times to Europe, Hawaii twice, Lions conventions, Chicago every year for marching competitions. Looking back, you think, ‘How did we ever do it?’ It was the parents; good old parents helping out. They worked bingos to finance the trips. Nothing seemed impossible. When we got an invitation to go someplace, we just tried harder and got there.”
Mossing, who took over as director of the RLCB in 1970, laughs when he thinks about what his mother would say about his retirement as a band director.
“She would say, ‘ What’s the matter with you? You’re only 82 and you’re hanging it up?’ I think (my parents) would be proud of me. I know they would be,” said Mossing.
“My mom was called the Little General. When she said, ‘Jump,’ you’d say, ‘How high?’ My dad, on the other hand, was just a goodnatured Norwegian. If it didn’t work out today, don’t worry, it’s work out tomorrow type of guy ... I would say that my mom was the leading factor in my life.”
While Mossing is stepping away from the Mossing School of Music, that doesn’t mean he’s giving up teaching entirely.
“I’m still going to teach privately and that’s what I love, seeing a student that starts at six or seven years of age and then graduates and is now directing bands themselves or playing in them,” said Mossing. “That’s what I want to do. And of course I’ll still do the Prairie Winds Concert Band. It’s just that the Mossing School of Music has done what it has set out to but a lack of membership has forced us to close the doors.”
So what will his legacy be? “I don’t even now how to answer that question,” said Mossing, who was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 1994. “I’m at the end of the Mossing trail and from what I can see, there’s no one behind me, when it comes to relatives, to do music. But I am so happy when I’m invited to a band concert and one of my former pupils is the band director, using the same methods and jokes that I use.
“As far as the Mossing legacy goes, it’s done.”
Sunday’s concert at Lakeview United Church will feature the Mossing School Beginner Band and the Mossing School Senior Band with some assistance, if necessary, from members of the Mossing School Adult Band.
Tickets are $10 at the door with children 12 and under admitted free of charge.
Mossing hopes that as many former students as possible will be in attendance for the event.
“It’s been said that 12,000 students went through the Lions Band during my time there and I’m hoping some of them will come out for the concert," said Mossing. “Members of the Roughrider Pep Band, which I also organized, will also be at the concert. We’re going out with a bang, it’s going to be quite the concert.
“I also taught bands in Kipling, Whitewood and Strasbourg and they’ve all been contacted about the concert. A common comment is, ‘Bob, I can’t even find my horn anymore.’ I tell them, ‘Forget about your horn, just come to the concert.’ It’ll be nice to see them again.”