THE Wonthaggi Citizens Band was proudly named the Open C Grade Brass Champions at the Australian National Band Championships, held over the Easter long weekend.
Eleven bands competed in this category, largely from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. This amazing achievement was the result of four months of hard work and dedication from the players, including committing to extra rehearsals on weekends.
For many, this was their first Australian National Band Championships and first competition.
Most notably, there were seven members of the youth band who now perform with the senior band.
“The band performed brilliantly. We went in hoping to do the best we could do, and it was great to be able to accomplish something like this at a national level,” musical director Craig Marinus said.
Travelling to Kew to perform at the Methodist Ladies’ College, the band was tasked with performing four pieces – a hymn, test piece, major work and stage march.
“Our focus was on playing the music differently. We want to bring the music to life, not just play the notes in front of us, and we were successful enough to impress the adjudicator.”
“We brought real feeling and emotion to the hymn, and the test piece was 12 points clear of the runner-up band,” Craig said. “We were really happy and felt good about the way we played, but we couldn’t believe the result. We are really proud to have achieved this on a national stage. It’s magic when something like this happens.”
For the Wonthaggi Citizens Band, the weekend was a family affair with many families playing together in the band.
This includes Craig’s family, which has three generations involved – Craig and his wife Susan, his daughter Alicia and son Adam, and his granddaughter Emerald. Craig thanked the community for its ongoing support of the Wonthaggi Citizens Band.
“The town support is fantastic. It’s good backing for when we represent the town in another region,” he said.
“We always receive awesome feedback and support from the community. We posted a video of the band singing There’s a Part of My Heart in Wonthaggi and it received 3700 views.”
The Wonthaggi Citizens Band have had a great run of competitions over the last eight years, which has come down to the dedication, hard work and support of its players.
With so much commitment from those involved, the band is already looking forward to its next performances.
A concert with renowned artist and trumpeter James Morrison is coming up in August at the Union, and tickets are already on sale. The band is also looking forward to its annual concert in October.
On top of this, a number of members – including Craig and his family – will be joining the City of Traralgon Band to play in London, France and Denmark in June. They will be playing at war memorials and will be performing for King Frederik and Queen Mary in Denmark.
“Playing with the band opens up some wonderful opportunities to travel the world,” Craig said. The band is also looking ahead to defend its title in Brisbane next year.
“It will require some hard work and fundraising to get all 35 members to Brisbane, but these competitions have been fantastic to build the band’s musical awareness and skills, which flows on into the concerts performed for the public,” Craig said. “Our players travel from all over Gippsland to rehearse and perform with the band, not only for the music, but the fellowship, friendship and inclusiveness that being in the band provides. I would personally like to thank all members, families and supporters.”
Craig also thanked The Wonthaggi Club for its ongoing sponsorship.
