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NEWSLETTER
Number 31 – term 4, 2007
http://cwbb.insysco.net.au
PHIL EADES – MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Phil has been conducting the senior band for a little while now, so we thought it was time for an interview…
When did you start to play an instrument?
I had my first lessons when I was seven. It was very basic. Once I could play the tunes I was taught it was in to the band to sink or swim.
Did your parents play?
Dad played the Cornet and Mum and Dad both sang in the church choir and could hold a tune, and embarrassingly, Mum played the piano accordion, which intrigued me when I was younger, but is sadly ‘nerd’ish these days. Sorry Mum.
Where did you learn?
I grew up in the northern NSW town of Murwillumbah. The Salvation Army bandmaster took me and my older brother for lessons for a couple of months then we spent December sitting on the back of a truck playing Christmas Carols. I was really only exposed to good band playing by the stereo, a Sunday morning ritual, Dad would stick one of his dozen or so LP’s on before we all left for church. I attribute most of my early learning to Ken Smith, with the Melbourne staff band and the record, Contrasts. I used to get into trouble for playing ‘lazily’; I was just trying to copy the style that I listened every Sunday morning.
When did you join a brass band? Which one?
My family was Salvation Army. Murwillumbah had a small band of about 15 players. I remember going to Sydney for Music camps from the age of about twelve. I was lucky to have made the top band every time. They were good experiences, exposing me to much harder music than I had excess to in my own small band. When the family moved to Sydney in 1981, I joined the Campsie Salvation Army band, eventually becoming principal cornet. They were a pretty good band by Army standards at the time and we toured PNG, New Zealand and Tonga, great cultural experiences, especially PNG.
Did you enter in competitions?
I entered the State Open Soprano cornet championship in the late ‘90’s and won, I like to think that I scared the competition off, but there was none. I was also conducting the Bankstown City Band and had entered a lot of the kinds into the Macarthur Eisteddfod and felt I should set a good example and entered the open sections. Another trophy, sadly again, I scared off the opposition. Winning solo competitions? It’s all about choosing your mark.
Have you been overseas with a band?
I have been very fortunate to have travelled quite a bit with bands. I have been on band tours to New Zealand, Tonga and Papua New Guinea with Campsie Salvation Army Band and USA (twice) and China with the NSW Fire Brigades Band. I have also competed with A grade band St Marys in every state except WA.
Did you know much about our band before you joined?
I had, of course, heard the band at State Championships, under Tara when the band was performing well in C grade, and of course she built quite a reputation with the development of the junior band.
What do you think works well in our band?
I think it’s great that there is a sense of ownership amongst the band members. It can be a bit of a double-edged sword, of course, but it does seem to be a positive for the group.
What would you like to change?
We have been working on a few things in the band room; I’d really like the band to play hymn tunes well. Salvation Army bands do because they play the tunes as if they’re singing them. I’d like to be asked that previous question in 12 months and be able to say what a great hymn-playing band we are.
What would you like to do in the coming years?
I think the band really needs to change community perception of what the band can do. I know what we are capable of but from the type of jobs we are being asked to do, if it’s not a parade, we aren’t really considered. The concert we did at Anita’s early in the year really opened some eyes. More of these concerts are planned for next year and of course we have a booking for Christmas where we will present Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
Thanks Phil!
SENIOR BAND
The Senior Band has a number of events for the rest of this year:
SHOWTIME – REGENT THEATRE, 8TH DECEMBER 2007
‘Showtime’, the newest joint concert with the Arcadian Lamplighters Male choir will be on the 8th December, starting at 2pm in the Regent Theatre in Wollongong. These concerts have been an enormous success, the last almost sold out in the Town Hall!! Tickets are $22 for Adults, $18 Concession, and $15 for youth 16 years and under.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL – ANITA’S THEATRE, 16TH DECEMBER 2007
One week after Showtime, on the 16th December the band will be performing again – Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” will be a mix of narrated storyline, and classic Christmas numbers. A similar concert is available on CD too (by a little-known English band), but our live version will be much better! Keep an eye on our website for further details about this concert
NEW ZEALAND NATIONALS 2008 – CHRISTCHURCH, 9-13 JULY 2008
The survey forms sent out by the committee have been collected and the results are positive: Most people in the band would like to go to New Zealand next year! The committee will now start to seek prices for accommodation, and tentatively book the band in. A Nationals – specific update will be circulated in the coming days to all the bands.
NAME THE BAND
As you may know, the Senior Band is looking to change its name. The committee has decided to seek sponsorship for the band, using naming rights as a method of remunerating our potential sponsor. Of course, we have also had a number of excellent suggestions from players, and should the sponsorship idea fall through, one of these will be used.
CHRISTMAS PARTY – BANDHALL, 21ST DECEMBER 2007
The committee will be hosting a Christmas party in the Band hall on Friday, 21st December. All members and guests are invited to attend! Members are free, though for guests we ask $12. The night will be all-you-can-eat and drink, with a fully catered spit-roast, together with various salads, vegetarian dishes and dessert. See or call Wiebe (0439723843) if you would like to come along – the more the merrier! There is also a sheet hanging on the notice board in the band hall if you can’t catch up with him. We need to know final numbers by the 7th December. (Wiebe’s e-mail is w.wilbers@insysco.net.au)
DID YOU KNOW?
SOCIAL BAND
The social band, after weeks of (loud) rehearsals, played a joint concert with the Illawarra Pipe Band at Mt Warrigal Retirement Village last weekend. The concert was very well received by the audience, with some cheering ‘more’!. The combination of Bagpipes and a Brass Band, whilst unconventional, worked remarkably well, with neither group overpowering the other. Well-done Bill and the Social Band!
EBAY
A percentage of the income from the band house is placed into a dedicated sub-account, specifically for instrument replacement. The fruits of this are starting to show throughout our organization. New percussion equipment, including a gong, skins and snares, has been purchased and will be installed in the coming weeks. Also, the committee has purchased a Sovereign Baritone from Marion City Brass Band in South Australia, via ebay.
JUNIOR BAND
We are down in numbers, but not in spirit! The band has been working to build up a wide repertoire of music – lots of different styles and difficulties. This is a good thing, because we have booked a concert on the 17th December, at Minnamurra Public School, starting at 7pm – we would love to see you there!
If you, or someone you know would like to join, just come along! No banding experience is required. 5:30 – 7:00pm, Friday nights at the Band hall (Cnr Church and Ellen Sts Wollongong)
MACARTHUR EISTEDDFOD
A Small but dedicated group made the trek to Campbelltown recently, to compete in the Macarthur Eisteddfod. The 14 and under, 16 and under and open groups all came first – Well done! The adjudication was very positive, and whilst the group got ‘lost’ in one part, everyone listened in and got it back on track without needing to stop – much more difficult than it sounds! Sarah B also competed on Soprano Cornet, winning her events. In short, Wollongong Brass Band was extremely well represented – Congratulations everyone!
EXTENSIONS
The committee has submitted plans to a structural engineer, so they can be drawn up professionally before submission to council. All going to plan, the existing shed will be replaced with a two-storey brick building, including a dry-room for our music library, secure instrument storage, a garage for the trailer, walk-in wardrobe for uniforms, a floating mezzanine level inside the hall, and some office space for administration. Sadly, the spa bath and tennis court didn’t fit L.
Drainage will also be improved, so we don’t have to walk through mud whenever it rains.