Para Hills Band founding member, Gerry Matthews has died aged 88 on 6th August 2014. His funeral will be held on Wednesday 20th August at 10.45am at Enfield Memorial Park. He loved everything banding.
 

A reflection by Craig Wood, Mount Gambier City Band: While the Mount Gambier City Band was disappointed with its results in the C Grade Victorian Band Championships in Ballarat yesterday, the band's players and Musical Director Jarrod Harrison were not disappointed with their performance. 

In a tough competition held at the historic Her Majesty's Theatre, the band scored lower than expected in the performance of four pieces of music, including the test Piece: "Sinfonietta" by Gordon Langford. Eventual winners. the City of Traralgon band won the points tally and took the mantle of Victorian Champions from Darebin City Northern Brass who finished unplaced.

The local band takes solace from the overwhelming number of supporters who contacted the band before and after the contest. For the first time, the brass championship performances were streamed on live video through the internet and the City bands' on stage showing was watched by many Mount Gambier residents and followers.  
Musical Director Jarrod Harrison, showing why he is considered in band circles as a most promising up and coming leader, took responsibility for the band's performance. He stated that the band had played as he had asked them, and had not left any thing out of the stage performance. 

In music competition it is always difficult to know the specific expectations of an adjudicator about a piece of music on a particular day. Getting each player to share the same expectations is also problematic. And unfortunately for the City band, it was a simple case of the interpretation and technique not being what the adjudicator, Sean Preist from Tasmania, was looking for on the day.  

Mr Harrison has now taken his charges to four band contests in two and a half years, and regardless of Sunday's results, the band has experienced significant growth and  improvement over that time.  

With business as usual, the City band will continue rehearsing and combining contests with community service. Individual players will represent the city in the South Australian Solo Championships in September before the local Senior's Concert at the Band Hall in October. The band also looks forward to the Christmas Parade, the Lions' Club Blue Lake contest and the Limestone Coast Tattoo, all in November.

Craig Wood,
Secretary: Mount Gambier City Band 

Being involved in community bands is more than just playing music. Band events promote a strong social environment so it's no surprise that band members do many different activities together. It would be difficult to find a band in South Australia that limits its social interaction to rehearsal times.

Last Year SABA supported the Great Cycle Challenge which helped raise funds for child cancer research, this was a fantastic opportunity to raise money for a charity directly affecting South Australian band members and way which bandies can share other interests. A quick glance at facebook will reveal more photos and pre/post rehearsal meals and drinks than actual rehearsals! Marion City Band has a dedicated netball team called the CORNETballs (pictured) that compete every Sunday (lets hope they dont get into the grand final becuase its on the same weekend as the states). Fundraising events are a good way of bringing playing and non-playing band members together, movie nights, sporting events, City to Bay Fun Run, Bay to Birdwood, Cheesefest, vintage celebrations in the Barossa, family holidays just to name a few of the soial events that we see bandies enjoying every week.

If your band enjoys more than concerts and competitions let us know, post to the SABA facebook page, submit an article to [email protected] We would love to hear what SA band members are up to.

BJ O'Donovan

With only one rehearsal left before they represent the city at the Victorian State Band Championships in Ballarat this weekend (August 16th & 17th), the Mount Gambier City Band is working feverishly on putting the finishing touches to their anticpated contest stage performance.

The local band will be up against seven other bands in their division, including the current National and Victorian Champions; Darebin City - Northern Brass. With a strengthened cornet section since their very close second placing at the South Australian Band Championships last year, the band is in a good place to compete with their opposition, especially in the performance of the test piece. Gordon Langford's "Sinfonietta", by which all bands are measured against each other. 

Musical Director Jarrod Harrison has been rehearsing the band and various instrumental sections hard for the past two months.The City band also hopes to gain an edge in the points tally through the performance of their other three pieces, which includes a hymn, a stage march and a concert item.    

In an exciting development for the band movement and local supporters, a live internet video stream of the Victorian Band Championships can be viewed at http://brassbanned.com/. The local band's division is scheduled to start on Sunday morning.   

Interested members of the public are welcome to come and witness the band's final rehearsal at the City Band Hall this Wednesday night from 7:30pm.

Payneham City Concert Band Concert presents and evening concert called Reflections. The band will present a number of works also featuring acclaimed harpist and vocalist, Emma Horwood.

WHEN
Friday September 12th 2014
7:30pm

WHERE
All Souls Anglican Church, Crn Stephens Terrace and Third Avenue St Peters
Tickets $15 at the door
Light supper provided

SABA are running a drill accreditation course on Saturday 16th August to get some of our drum majors nationally certified to be capable of adjudicating marching competitions.

To do this, we have David Peters coming from Tasmania for the weekend. Part of the accreditation requires our drum majors to run drill with a band, so we are seeking between 12 - 20 people who have marched before to form up this band - no playing will be required.

Our volunteers will meet at Mitcham band hall (corner Belair / Grange Roads, Lower Mitcham - opposite the Mitcham Council Offices) at 12.30pm for a BBQ lunch supplied by SABA before commencing the drill section of the accreditation at 1.30pm. Our volunteers will be needed for around 3 hours in total (but may be less).

This is a great social opportunity to get to know members from other bands, and also to build the skills of some of our drum majors.

If you are interested, please register your interest with your band secretary so they can email your details to Tamina, the SABA Secretary. Further information will be supplied to your band secretary / Facebook in the weeks leading to the event.

Looking forward to seeing you there.
SABA

An Open invitation to Anyone!

Are you a local music student-or interested in local community music making-or just an interested member of the public?

Please be aware of a special ‘live rehearsal’ of the Hahndorf Town Band has on Monday 11th August. Presented by Philip Paine, MD of Hahndorf Town Band, Principal Horn Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. St Pauls Lutheran Church Hall, 10 Main Street Hahndorf, commencing at 7.30pm. Presented in association with the school band of  Turramurra High from North Sydney (Years 7, 8 & 9 which will be on tour in the Adelaide Hills)

Come and see the Band rehearse! Learn what the band does and why! An interactive workshop!

Supper available!
Enquiries email [email protected] or phone 0429929918
(Entrance by Gold Coin Donation)