at the State Band Championships.
The band, which is based in Lane Cove and draws the bulk of its membership from the local area, was in fine form, winning both the Test and the Own Choice sections of the competition against competitors Penrith Valley, and Muswellbrook Concert Bands.
The band’s director, Phil Arnold, who has been at the helm of the band since early in 2005, said the result was particularly gratifying as the band has recently been through an intense rebuilding process.
“The music which bands are required to play at this level of competition demands a very significant level of musical maturity and expertise.” he said. “Both the Test Piece, Folk Song Suite Number 3, was written by Killara-based Australian composer David Stanhope, and the own choice music, Cotillon by Arthur Benjamin, contained extremely challenging passages,” he added, “And it is a tribute to the ability of the band’s members that they were able to perform with such a high degree of assurance and achieve what were described by the Adjudicator as ‘Magical moments’.”
The band will now begin preparing for its annual River Concert which will be held at Tambourine Bay on November 4. It is a free concert commencing at 4pm and everyone is welcome.
Lane Cove Concert Band rehearses every Thursday evening from 7.30pm in the Cove Room in the Lane Cove Council Chambers and, whilst its membership is described as ‘robust’, the band is always looking for additional members especially in the sections of saxophone, lower brass and percussion. Enquiries can be directed to the band’s secretary, Liz Irwin on 0400 113 302 or at ehi@idx.com.au.
