What we do...

The band performs a diverse repertoire that has recently included concert band standards such as "Poet and Peasant," medleys of popular tunes, Australian classics, light classical music, and military band arrangements, including marches, hymns, and ceremonial pieces. Our performance calendar features marching through the city for ANZAC Day, commemorative events for dignitaries, and local citizenship ceremonies. We plan to hold four major concerts each year, including a Christmas celebration, catering to a wide range of audiences at various venues such as park performances, formal evening concerts, retirement village events, and special invitations like the Ekka. Basically, we play music for our local community.

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We have two uniforms. For ceremonial occasions we have a military style blue uniform, and for formal concerts we wear black. 

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Our instrumentation

We have 30 members and are steadily growing. Our instrumentation at the moment is:

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• Flutes

• Oboe

• Clarinets

• Bassoon

• Saxophones

• French Horns

• Trumpets

• Trombones

• Euphonium

• Tubas

• Tuned and Untuned percussion

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We need more of everything, but we'd be particularly keen for more clarinets, trumpets, and percussion. We don't audition, but members are expected to play to at least a Grade 6 or7 AMEB standard or equivalent. Some of our pieces are more difficult than this, but so long as members are prepared to give it their best, we are very supportive.

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Spotlight on members

 

Concert Leader: Belinda Daveson

Drum Major: Ian Menzies

 

Section Leaders

• Flutes: Narelle Clarke

• Clarinets: Belinda Daveson

• Saxophones: Ian Menzies

• Trumpets: Nicole Blackett

• Trombones: Chris Wright

• Low Brass: Prof. Nan Bahr

• Percussion: Ryan Weihonig

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The management committee

Prof. Nan Bahr, our President, is Professor Emeritus at Southern Cross University and holds adjunct professorships at QUT, Griffith University, and the University of Southern Queensland and she still teaches each semester at UQ. She has a PhD in Music Education and a national and international reputation for her leadership, research, and publications as an educator. A notable highlight of her leadership in music education was her appointment as Dean of the Arts, Education, and Law Group at Griffith University, which included overseeing teaching and learning for the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. She later held the prestigious position of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students) at Southern Cross University, a challenging role, particularly during the pandemic. Nan actively contributes to the band as a tuba player.

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Russell Gurrin is the Band Secretary and the master of our communication strategy. Emails about our events and planning will come to you from Russell. He is a high-powered engineer in his day job and plays the French Horn with the band.

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Belinda Daveson is a founding member of the band. She first joined around 35 years ago and, after a break to focus on her young family, has now served at least 25 years as the principal clarinetist. Belinda is the current treasurer of the band, drawing on her expertise and experience as a network manager with a technical company. She is an ideas person and is the grassroots leader for many of the band's community initiatives.

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Jacob Bahr is a young and energetic member of the band who is a talented high school music teacher in his own right. He has been with the band for just under 10 years and can be best described as a multi-instrumentalist. Jacob is the band librarian, a demanding role that he manages admirably. He is likely to be the first person you'll meet at your first rehearsal with the band, as he endeavors to provide you with all the sheet music you will need.

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