The future of St Mary’s District Band, one of the most famous brass bands in Australia is under great threat following news of the dissolution of its Board of Directors and termination of the appointment of their conductor by the St Mary’s Band Club.

Jeopardy

Speaking to 4BR, principal euphonium player Adam Bokaris said that the decision has placed the very existence of the band, which has rehearsed at the famous Sydney venue since 1953 in jeopardy.

130 year history

The Club also played host to the Ern Keller International Solo Championship event since 1974, whilst the 130 year old band itself is the current Champion Band of New South Wales.

"The Club's Board of Directors has dissolved our band committee and fired our musical director, Ben Crocker. St Mary’s District Band is now homeless and in desperate need of support in order to survive in the long run."

Statement

In a statement written on behalf of the band by Secretary Felicity Rynn, Musical Director Ben Crocker and Band President Michael Rynn on Behalf of the members of St Marys District Band, the position the band now finds itself in has been made clear.

In it they say: "St Marys District Band, (more recently known as St Marys Band Club Brass) wishes to advise all relevant State and National Bodies, clients, patrons and supporters as well as all other interested parties that, effective immediately, it no longer maintains any relationship whatsoever with the St Marys Band Club Limited, (recently rebranded as ‘The Bandy’).

The band, consistent with its long history, will revert to, and should now be known exclusively as, ‘St Marys District Band’.

St Marys District Band was initially founded over 130 years ago, at a time when modern day St Marys was merely a rural outpost, home to new migrants and pioneer settlers. Since at least 1952, the band has been in continuous operation, serving the community as a vehicle for the education of beginner players and experienced musicians alike.

Over many years, the band has at all times had an open door policy, providing expert tuition and assistance to any person wishing to learn a brass instrument and/or join a band.

It was the band itself which came together in 1953 to found the ‘St Marys District Band Club’, that club being built on land donated to the band many years earlier by a local businessman.

In recent years, unfortunately, there has been a growing divergence between the band and the Club regarding the band’s direction and activities.

Those differences came to a head on the 25th September, when, with 32 hours’ notice, the Club board of directors purported to immediately terminate the Music Director, and to dissolve the Band’s Committee.

Following a period of internal discussions, and after seeking legal advice, the entire playing membership, their supporters and associates, voted unanimously to reject the Club’s actions, and to initiate a formal separation from the Club. This was done on Tuesday 1 October.

It follows then, that the St Marys District Band, having returned home from a highly successful weekend at the Australasian Open Championships in Brisbane, is without a home and, for the first time in 60 years, will be in search of new rehearsal premises.

Already the band has devoted much time and energy to all matters requiring attention as the band prepares for its future outside the Club.

To date, the band has gratefully received broad support across the band world."

with 32 hours’ notice, the Club board of directors purported to immediately terminate the Music Director, and to dissolve the Band’s CommitteeSt Mary's District Band

Help

All further enquiries, offers of assistance, advice or other correspondence would be welcomed by the band and should be directed to: bandmanager@stmarysbrassband.com


Felicity Rynn – Secretary
Ben Crocker – Music Director
Michael Rynn — President
On Behalf of the Members of St Marys District Band