Australian Concert Bands

Hey All.

First post in this thread!

My name is Ben Simon (as if you couldnt tell by the name!). Am 24 years of age

I play trumpet with the Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Band. I used to also play in the Mid North Coast All Star stage band, but gave that up recently. Also notched up 10 years with the Kempsey District Silver Band.

have been mucking around on trumpet for 15 years - just starting to get the hang of it!!

Have been in community bands for since i was around 10 - and love it!

When ever i got away for work, i always take my trumpet and try and sit in with a band somewhere. I have been to Canberra City Concert Band which was awesome, and also spent a night practicing with Brisbane Excelsior Brass Band (which was awesome!).

I also am one of our band 'buglers' who play the last post at Anzac Day etc.

Hi Eveyone,

My name is Bethany and i'm a member of the Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Band the recent C-GRADE STATE CHAMPS!!!. I have been a member for just over 5 years and am loving it. I have not always lived in Port. I used to live in Victoria and this is when i started in my first bands and leart my major instruments, Cornet and Flute. I started them both in year 7. I played the flute with the school band and cornet with the local brass band.

When i moved to Port and joined the band where i was informed that i would have to learn trumpet as they didn't have cornets in concert bands. I played cornet for a further 3 years until the state championships in Newcastle in 2003.

It was then that there were not enough flute players and too many trumpet players. So i gave back my trumpet which i had borrowed and started playing flute. I haven't looked back although i do miss playing it sometimes.

So this is me. I am now first flute and section leader. I love music and i always will and i hope someday i will dust off a trumpet and play it again.

Hey all!

Yes another trumpet player (well I try anyway)! This year has seen my first foray into the world of concert bands - having grown up as one of "those" brass banders and I gotta say its been fun, I'm not totally converted yet but give it time! Below you'll find all the dets on where I currently play.

Hope to meet many more like minded muso's in the forums!

Thanks admin what a great idea!

LOL.

No worries skysblue

We almost have our trumpet line signed up!!!

Ill let you persevere with a string forum lololol

Lol, forget it! You know what they say ~ the tighter the string, the tighter the ...... (hopefully there won't be too many sting players dropping in here!) I'm already an endangered instrument

Hi My name is Bernard Denlay, I'm a life member of Brisbane Excelsior but I'm on indefinate leave for a host of reasons. I don't play in any band at the moment although I'm the Bass Trombonist of the QLD Pops Orchrstra which is a great gig. I'd like to find a good concert band to play in but there are not too many opportunities in Brisbane.

Hello My name is Bev Smith-Trim. I am not a musician but I love Concert and Brass Bands. My son is a musician and I have just been telling him about this forum. He is the Musical Director of the SA Police Rangers Concert Band - the A Grade State Champions for the last two contests.
My son is also a member of K&N Brass and is the current National Trumpet and Flugel Horn Champion. I have a daughter who is also a good brass player but is currently not playing. She lives in Townsville.

I have some alpacas and sheep and live on a small farm 40K north of Adelaide.

Best wishes to everyone who participates in this Forum. Well done Ben for setting it up.

Greetings to Bev and Bernard

Welcome guys

Since 4:00pm today (now 9:30) we have had 20 members sign up! How good is that?!

Hope to see your boys in here one day Bev! A real banding family! Great to see. I was the odd one out in our lot - the others all played sport (but i know who has more fun!)

Bernard - i dropped into XLCR for a rehearsal about 12 months ago and loved it! One of the best nights of my life. I sat there on 3rd cornet just LOVIN IT!!!

Well mate, if you get sick of Brisbane, i know a good band in PMQ that would love another bone player!

Hey guys,

well about me…

I am 20 year old studding Bachelor of music at UWS, Music and bands is kinda my life. I run two school band programs in the Blue Mountains. I have been playing with the Blue Mountains Concert band Since I was 9 years old I am also a foundation member of Mountains Youth Band (2007 Jur C Grade Champs + Bathurst Eisteddfod winners) On the only other free night of the week I play with Parramatta City. Music is my life and I enjoy being a part of community music.

I play a Bach Strad Trumpet witch I love to bits, it gets played in concert bands, orchestras and gets into the pub and club gigs with me one of the best all round trumpets I have ever played in my short life:P

Well that’s me!

Welcome Dan!

Thanks for comin along!

How did you hear about the forums?

Go the Bach's! I have a Bach Strad model 42 (i think) and its the best trumpet i have ever played. Problem was that i bought it when the exchange rates were really bad, and it cost me over 4 grand...now they are down to 2.5!!!

Hi All,

My name is Matt, I play horn with the North West Wind Ensemble, the current national and NSW state Open A grade champs. I'm a real dork when it comes to concert bands so I'm very happy to see this forum open. I really hope it takes off. Brass bands have dominated the scene for far too long! It's time to fight back and take our place at the top of the Australian band scene!

Hey Matt

Welcome!!

Congrats to the band for your win in A Grade! I didnt actually hear you guys play, but those in our band that did said it was an awesome performance!

One day we might be there...but just winning C grade was a big blast!

Yeah - lets take the "squeakies" to the top!

Cheers

Ben

bensimon wrote:Welcome Dan!

Thanks for comin along!

How did you hear about the forums?

Go the Bach's! I have a Bach Strad model 42 (i think) and its the best trumpet i have ever played. Problem was that i bought it when the exchange rates were really bad, and it cost me over 4 grand...now they are down to 2.5!!!

Yeh, they have come down in price but nothing beats an older strad, mine is only new made in 05.
I found this forum on spit valve, the brass band one.

I agree

I think i got mine in 02 or something around there!

My name is Glen and I play the Euphonium with Port Macquarie Hastings Band. I have been a Brass Band player since I was 16 now 40 something.
I do enjoy playing with a concert band but still not converted from Brass.
During my playing years I have played Euphonium, EEb Bass, Tenor Horn, French Horn, Oboe and the Organ.

Below is a list of bands I have played with:

Port Maquarie Hastings Concert Band (current)
Port Maquarie Salvation Army Band (current)
Camden Haven Concert Band
Parkes Town Band
Forbes Town Band
Dubbo Brass Band
Liverpool City Brass Band
Parramatta City Brass Band
Transport Institute Concert Band (formally railways band)

Banding has been and will always be are part of my life Just love it
Be good to hear from other Euphonium Players