Campbelltown City Band & Torrens Brass: Winter Concert 2007

Campbelltown Function Centre
Saturday 30th June
Compare and Guest Vocalist: Winston Kay
Musical Director: Al Kidney

In early 2006 the Campbelltown City Band was described as being at a crossroads. Several issues needed to be addressed: Players, instruments, uniforms, public image, youth program & learners. Above all else, the existing members needed to regain confidence in the future of their band. 

Sometimes it's productive to look back and to observe the progress made. In Campbelltown City Bands case, it would have been easy we suspect for the band to have plodded on with the same old, same old. Fortunately, key people in the Campbelltown City Band machinery had the fortitude to take on the hard issues.

This year's Campbelltown City Band ‘Winter Concert' everyone witnessed the fruits of those ‘hard decisions' made in 2006 and while there is still you might say ‘uncharted waters' ahead we can safely report that considerable progress has been made.

Entering the Concert venue, one was left with a firm impression that this was a very different Campbelltown City Band to that of old. In the foyer of the Campbelltown Function Centre, a large group of young children had gathered ‘tootling' away and warming up on their brass instruments. There was a ‘tangible' air of anticipation for what lay ahead.

Torrens Bass under the Musical Direction of Sarah Butler commenced this years Winter Concert. The band performed Ode to Joy, Dr Rock, Big Rock Candy Mountain, Big Bravo and ended with the delightful Boogie Blues. 

There's no understating the importance of this humble performance given that it signals not only the development of all the individual members but the future basis for the Campbelltown City Band to be confident in their future.

Campbelltown City Band under the Musical Direction of Al Kidney commenced their Winter Concert 2007 with Fanfare and Soliloquy arranged by none other than Al Kidney.

The musical arrangements of Jan van Kraeydonck featured prominently.  Beatles Gold a compilation arrangement of many of the famous Beatles pieces followed.
The tempo was changed with the well known Holy Holy Holy (Nicaea) – John Bachus Dykes arr James Curnow and then as quickly as the tempo was slowed down, the concert's first quarter ended with a bright performance of the Concert March Bandology - Eric Osterling Arr Frank Wright.
Compare for the evening was Winston Kay. Winston added a new dimension to the evenings events by singing to the audience some of Frank Sinatra's better known pieces -  Fly me to the moon and Summer Wind.

Al Kidney arrangements featured Unchained Melody  and Where the Black Hawke Soars.  Cavatina – Stanley Myers Arr Derek Broadbent was an opportunity to feature Mark Smith on Flugal.

Compere Winston Kay didn't quite get the pronunciation of Hine e Hine as it should have been. Nevertheless the Peter Graham arrangement of this traditional New Zealand piece demonstrated to all present the bands ability to perform pieces of a more delicate nature.

The last quarter included pieces such the Music of Night from the Phantom of the Opera and the ever popular Sway arr Jan van Kraeydonck .

The evening's concert concluded with 2 Bill McAlister arrangements, London Calling and City of Lights.

This was an enjoyable evening for all in the Campbelltown Function Centre. Oddly enough, the date selected for this concert was determined to some extent by the then impending demolition of the function centre by the Campbelltown City Council. The decision to demolish the centre has subsequently been reversed by council.

Campbelltown City Band and Torrens Brass enjoyed a solid turnout of Supporters, friends and family for this year's Winter Concert.  Campbelltown Mayor Simon Brewer and Councilors were also there to support their community band and to see the evidence of their earlier support through uniforms and instrumentation.

We're back!

These were the 2 evocative words used by Musical Director Al Kidney as he summed up his impression of the major concert for the year.  Still relatively new to the Campbelltown City Band scene, Al Kidney acknowledged the work of the 2 Musical Directors that had preceded him and spoke positively of the future direction of the band.

We agree. Campbelltown City Band is well and truly back and we will look forward to their continued development. 

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