Academy Band Debut

Our recent ‘More Movies an Musicals’ concert (Sunday Sept 24 Blackwood Memorial Hall) marked the debut performance of the Mitcham City Brass Academy Band. The band which rehearses weekly on Thursday night, caters for beginner and developing brass players, providing an opportunity to rehearse and perform in a supported environment alongside experienced players.

Directed by Steven Packer, the Academy Band performed a set of pieces including the hymn Abide With Me, an arrangement of Beethoven’s Song of Joy, the four movement Debut Concert for Brass Band by Australian composer Adam Arnold, and finishing the set with popular rock’n’roll numbers See Ya Later Alligator and Everybody Needs Someone to Love.

Special mention must be made of the support Sarah Butler has provided the Academy Band by recruiting and encouraging many of the junior members.

Mitcham City Brass, which may have been seen as the ‘support act’ in the eyes of many a proud parent, was also part of the concert and performed the opening and closing sets with some of the most well known and loved pieces from the movie and musicals genre being included in the program. A highlight being the beautiful euphonium duet Deep Inside The Sacred Temple featuring Peter McIntyre and Jonno Mitchell.

Interludes from our Tuba/Euponium Quartet and Six Piece Brass Ensemble rounded out the afternoon which was thoroughly enjoyed by an appreciative audience.

Many thanks to the committee and MCB supporters for their tireless efforts in organising the afternoon and all the work that goes into the publicity, transport of equipment, setting up the venue, afternoon tea, raffles etc, etc, etc…