Paul Terracini has been officially appointed as the full-time professional Musical Director of the St Marys Band Club.

Paul has been working with the band since January, and the announcement is now official following a meeting of the Board of Directors last night.

About Paul

Paul Terracini is an Australian musician, conductor, composer and teacher who has recently returned to Australia after living and working in Europe.

He has previously held permanent positions as Principal Trumpet in the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (1975-1979); Lecturer in Trumpet, Concert Band, Brass Ensemble and Big Band at the QLD Conservatorium of Music (1982-1988); and Solo Trumpet in the Danish Chamber Players, Denmark (1991-2007) with whom he toured on a regular basis throughout western and eastern Europe.

Compositions

For the last ten years he has written and conducted a great deal of music for film and television in Europe, plus three series for Australian television – “Hymns of the Forefathers I&II” for ABC TV, and “Classical Destinations”, for SBS TV. The music for these series, including the acappella choral album, “Lead Kindly Light”, has been released on CD and DVD by Decca and ABC Classics.

His title music for “Classical Destinations” was featured on the “Number 1 Classical Album of 2007”, released by Decca. “Classical Destinations Educational Series”, for which he wrote and conducted the theme music, has just been released worldwide for educational purposes in secondary schools by one of the world’s biggest publishers of music, Hal Leonard.

Prague Symphony Orchestra

Mr Terracini has also conducted ten CDs with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, as well as conducting opera in Germany and concerts in Italy. Some recent commissions have been the title music for “Classical Destinations Series II”, to be recorded by the Australian Chamber Orchestra in 2008 and the orchestration of music for a new CD recording to be conducted by horn virtuoso, Barry Tuckwell.

As a soloist

Terracini has performed as soloist in Europe, USA and Asia. In Australia, he has appeared as trumpet soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, QLD Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. While working at the QLD Conservatorium from 1982-1988, he conducted the Conservatorium’s Concert Band, Brass Ensemble, and Big Band.

Brass Bands too

In addition to this, he conducted the Brisbane Excelsior Band and was a frequent guest instructor all over Brisbane and QLD in the secondary school system, giving masterclasses and workshops.

Teacher and Consultant

While living in Europe from 1989, he taught trumpet, brass ensemble, and chamber music instruction at two conservatoriums and countless secondary schools.

He has guest-conducted many ensembles in Denmark, as well as giving masterclasses in Germany, China, Norway, Estonia and Latvia. While living in Europe, he was a frequent guest in Australia, giving masterclasses at the Sydney Conservatorium, QLD Conservatorium, and Newtown High School for the Performing Arts.

Time to settle

Terracini has recently returned to live in Australia with his two children and has settled in the Blue Mountains. He now intends to focus his musical activities on free-lance composing, teaching and conducting.

The St Mary's Band Club has a lot to look forward to under the direction Paul Terracini — exciting times it will be.