The Columbus Concert Band performs throughout Toronto and the GTA, performing in Vaughan for the Italian National Day Celebrations at Vaughan City Hall, in Mississauga during the Italian Heritage Day hosted by MICBA and for Carassauga 2013 & 2014.
The band has also performed in Toronto at Beth David Synagogue, as well as at St. Clare of Assisi (supporting the church’s fundraising initiative for South Sudan, Africa) and St. Roch’s Parishes.
The Columbus Concert Band also does annual performances at Famee Furlane and at St. Wilfrid’s parish for their annual Christmas celebrations. Lastly, the band performs regularly at the Columbus Centre for various events and special occasions. The Columbus Concert Band is always in high demand and enjoys performing on average about 8 concerts each performance season.
We are an award-winning band, proudly placing Platinum in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Kiwanis Festival of Toronto, and placing Second in the OMFA 2017 Provincial Finals Recorded Competition.
Want to join us? We rehearse at St. Charles Borromeo (811 Lawrence Ave W, North York, ON) every Tuesday from 7:30-9:30pm.
Feel free to contact us at ccbtoronto@gmail.com for more information.
Our Leadership
Annamaria Mazzaferro
Conductor/Music Director
Columbus Concert BandAnnamaria is the Conductor of the Columbus Concert Band and is also flautist for the past 44 years. She is a graduate of York University’s Fine Arts (Music Performance – Flute) and Faculty of Education programs and holds a Masters Degree in Education (OISE-UT).
Annamaria has taught music since 1992. She was hired by Scarborough Board of Education (now TDSB) and began her music education career at Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute where she taught Instrumental and Vocal music and was director of the Concert Choir and Junior Band for 6 years. In 1998 she became Head of Music at Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute, where she enjoyed many years teaching Junior and Senior Instrumental and Vocal Music. Annamaria also taught Guitar, and later in her career, taught Junior and Senior Strings.
At Churchill, Annamaria was the director of many ensembles, most notably Junior and Senior Concert Band, Choir and Orchestra. Her groups have competed in Kiwanis, and have performed throughout Toronto, Southern Ontario, and the United States (Chicago and twice at Walt Disney World Florida). Annamaria is currently a high school administrator with the Toronto District School Board and has enjoyed the love of music throughout her entire life. She is an advocate for keeping music in our school systems and will be celebrating 30 years in education in 2023.
Livio Leonardelli
Founding Conductor and Music Director (2010-2018)
Columbus Concert BandLivio Leonardelli was born May 2, in Spormaggiore, in the Province of Trento, Italy. In 1954, he emigrated from Italy to Canada with his family. A letter of recommendation from Monsignor Scalvini was instrumental in Livio receiving acceptance to St. Michael’s College School. His interest in music began at St. Mike’s, where he immediately joined the band and played the trumpet under the direction of Mr. John Guerriere (who later became his lifelong friend and mentor). Livio was promoted to first trumpet after completing his first year with the band.
After graduating from St. Michael’s College, he was accepted at Ryerson in the Business Administration Program, but decided, after completing his RCM exams, to forego the business program and focus entirely on his studies in music. In 1967, upon completing his degree at the Ontario College of Education, Livio was offered a teaching position with the Toronto Board of Education. After a ten-year stay as Head of the Music Department at Lakeview Secondary School, he decided to transfer to the Metropolitan Separate School Board and began teaching at Chaminade College School. During this time he obtained his Music Specialist degree and was offered the headship of the Arts Department.
While teaching at Chaminade he entered his bands in a variety of competitions, most notably the Kiwanis Music Festival. Receiving high accolades and many gold awards, Livio quickly became known as Maestro Leonardelli, a title he wears proudly today. With an incredible amount of work and passion, Maestro Leonardelli organized trips for his bands to many cities across the United States. Their success in the States drove the Maestro to go farther, taking his bands across the ocean to Europe on concert tours a total of six times, including Italy where they toured under the name of “Youth in Concert Symphonic Band”.
Livio retired from teaching in January 2001. However, eight months later, Livio accepted an opportunity to start a music program at Villanova College, where once again he led the Villanova Concert Bands to achieve gold at a variety of competitions. He planned a European trip for his students and brought back with them numerous accolades and awards. Finally, in 2009 Maestro Leonardelli “retired”. In the fall of 2010, he accepted a request from Mr. Anthony Fusco Sr. to form and conduct the Columbus Concert Band. This was an offer too illustrious to refuse, allowing Livio to keep his passion for music ignited.