2006 Victorian State Championships

C Grade Preview and Predictions

When: Sunday 15 October 2.30pm
Where: Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts
Adjudicator: Bruce Armstrong
Test Piece: Inspiration by Jan de Haan

This would have to be the most hotly contested section of the weekend with seven bands taking to the stage, and standards largely comparable across the board.  Contrary to the set work in the D Grade, bands in C Grade have been challenged with the demands of Inspiration, but have risen to the challenge and have enjoyed the journey

The Bands

Advent Brass
Conductor: Reynold Gilson

Advent Brass is essentially a Seventh Day Adventist Church Band whose majority of players are members of the church.  Reynold Gilson, the MD, is a third generation member of Gilson family which have a long association with the band.

The attendance at rehearsals has been very good and morale is high.  Certainly the bands contest focus is not on winning but to improve the general standard of the band.  This has been a successful recipe for the band in past years, having won the C Grade Championship at Ballarat in 2004 and 2005.

Mark Ford has been a mentor for this group and the band has been very appreciative of his help and input.

City of Ballarat Municipal Band
Conductor:  Brian Milkins

Soprano:  Doug Slater
Principal cornets: Anthony Vanderkley/Robert Pattie
Flugel:  Kathleen Scott
Solo Horn:  Teena Ganosis
Principal Eupho:  Zoom Beck
Principal Trom:  Hugh McKelvey
Bass Trom:    John Raven
Principal Eb Bass:  Tim Scott
Principal Bb Bass:  Rob Ohlsen
Principal Percussionist:  Lindsay Govan
 
The band reported to 4BRDU:
Due to an exceptional number of band personnel being ill, work commitments, overseas etc. the band has not been able to achieve a smooth, progressive preparation intended to peak at the competition.
 
The band goes into South Street without having the luxury of having even one rehearsal attended by the full complement of the band.
 
Compounding this matter is the principal of the band is not to use permit players (in an unexpected, dire emergency, the band may use a straight replacement only for a main player) as it considers the permit rules are completely abused.
 
The band is having no real difficulty with the test piece in general, except for a few awkward passages. The difficulty for them has been adequately covering the thinly scored, transparent areas of the test piece.
 
City of Ballarat is looking forward to the 2006 competition. Over the last couple of years, the band has refocused its goals, resulting in a real effort to realise our actual potential at South Street.
 
If the bands wins - they will be delighted.  If they come last but have performed to the best of their ability, then they will simply acknowledge there are, and congratulate the, more skilled combinations and exit the competition stage with a feeling of quiet satisfaction with our own performance.

How's that for a great attitude!

Geelong West Brass Band
Conductor:  Jeff Steele

Principal Cornet: Jason Mears (permit)/Ross Quaife
Soprano:  Dale Lynch
Horn:  Wendy Steele
Principal Euphonium:  Coralie Weber

Geelong West is looking well prepared coming into this contest despite finding the test piece a bit of a challenge.

The membership is strong with many up and coming junior players are being rotated on the day. 

With a strong sense of family highly evident, the Mears and the Steele families are going to be very busy on Sunday.

Greater Bendigo Concert Brass
Conductor: Colin Wellard

Soprano: Bruno Siketa
Principal Cornet: Mr Harry Hood
Flugel: Peter Scott
Solo Horn: Leonie Wellard
Principal Eupho: Jenny Wagstaff
Solo Bari: Pat Dugan
Principal Trom: Jim Craddock
Bass Trom: The Guru Don Normington
Principal Eb Bass: Brian McMennemin
Principal Bb Bass: Denis Pinch
Principal Percussionist: Annette Conway

The band reported to 4BRDU:
The lead up has been ok- however like all bands, school holidays led to a great number of absences at rehearsal. The band has picked up a number of new players and are looking forward to participating in a very competitive section.

The Test is great and the band is really coming to grips with what the composer is looking for. Its a very bright and exciting piece so the band congratulates to the Musical Advisory Board on its selection.

Marion City
Conductor: Veronica Bowman

Soprano: Nick Bowman (Permit from Kew)
Principal Cornet: Kathy Hubbard
Flugel: Malcolm Denton
Solo Horn: Sarah Bain
Principal Eupho: Jonathan Shinnick
Solo Bari: Elizabeth McDonald
Principal Trom: James Bowman
Bass Trom: Natalie Bond
Principal Eb Bass: Tony Nicholls
Principal Bb Bass: Andrew Stone (Permit from K & N)
Principal Percussionist: Claire Behan
 
The band reported to 4BRDU:
Marion City has had a rather frantic preparation with a major concert to prepare for (Jack's 90th) and also playing at the SA States 2 weeks later (another major work). The band is down in cornets -  only 3 solos, 1 rep, 1 second and 1 third.

They are very pleased with the test piece, are finding it enjoyable, and it suits the band well.

The band is looking forward to the weekend away and will do the best it can given its hasty preparation.

Congratulations to the band on making the trip across - well done!

Marist Brothers
Conductor:  Matt Pankhurst

This band has had a nightmare of a run leading up to the contest with a string of unsettling incidents involving members of the band.  However, the band has rallied together, and have moved forward and are feeling positive about this weekend.

Marist Brothers are enjoying Matt Pankhurst out the front and have also received enormous benefit of input from band mentor, Ken McDonald.

Sunshine Community Brass
Conductor: Chris Smith

Soprano: Ian Cooper (one of the many bands that he is playing with in the grade and for the weekend. Permit from Kew)
Principal Cornet: Steven Woods
Flugel: Matthew Reynolds
Solo Horn: Doug Sodden
Principal Eupho: Grahame Woods
Solo Bari: Andrew McSwain
Principal Trom: Melissa Buckingham
Bass Trom: Kevin Bergan
Principal Eb Bass: Paul Fitzgerald
Principal Bb Bass: - Section greatly being supported by Tim Curnow (Kew)
Principal Percussionist: Karlean Glen

MD, Chris Smith, kindly reported to 4BRDU:
Its been a tough couple of months for this group - referring to the total destruction of the band room and contents several months ago.  In some ways the band has had more pressing issues than preparing for a contest, but felt the need to go so as to start functioning as normal as possible again. It has been stressful but will the troops will be glad to get to Ballaret and put in a solid performance, just to say they have done it, and keep moving forward.

The band has found it an enjoyable piece to work on, mostly achievable and within all capabilities with a bit of work.

The band would like to give a special thanks to staff at Muso's Media for donating music to us which we will be using as part of our own choice program at Ballarat.

4BRDU Predictions:

1. Advent Brass
2. Marist Brothers
3. Geelong West
All hearts are with:  Sunshine Community Brass