Having a blast: Geelong West Brass Band’s Jacqui Adcock, Jeff Steele and Ross Quaife.
By John Van Klaveren
IT MAY not have a boogie woogie bugle boy but our own Geelong West Brass Band is A grade.
That’s not just the opinion of energetic young conductor Jeff Steele – it’s the band’s official competition ranking.
It took a few years but the band steadily improved its ranking from C-grade, Jeff explained.
The band had competed in every national championship for the past seven years, he said.
“We did reasonably well in our first A-grade national championships. Competing against other bands helps us improve ourselves.
“In preparing for competition people do more practice at home and the different sections of the band get together and rehearse.
“We also have extra all-day rehearsals in the lead-up to a competition. It gets pretty intense.
“But it’s important that we grow as individual players as well as collectively because we cater to all ages, from youngsters to veterans.”
Now celebrating its 100th year, the band is embarking on a number of special performances throughout the year.
“We like to do community work, putting on performances for various key dates like Anzac Day or Christmas,” Jeff said.
“The band always loves to put on a good performance when we play for the community.
“We get a great reaction from audiences and people say they thoroughly enjoy the band.”
Run on an entirely voluntary basis, musicians turn into fundraisers to keep the band operating.
“It costs about $20,000 a year to keep a brass band going when you include competition entries and travel,” Jeff said.
“We put on regular sausage sizzles and go busking during the Christmas season.”
Jeff said the regular Tuesday night rehearsals were open to any interested or budding musicians.
“We can teach people how to play. We’re actually looking for percussionists at the moment.”
The band’s wide repertoire includes traditional hymns and marches as well as a range of pop numbers and well-known film and TV themes.
The brass band can also convert to swing music for some gigs.
The band’s next concert will raise money to fund its trip to Perth’s National Brass Band Championships in April.
The band will perform Geelong – The Brass End of The World at the 400-seat Geelong West Town Hall from 2pm on Sunday.
Jeff said tickets cost $15, with bookings available by phoning 5278 3768. More information about the band is available at geelongwestbrassband .com.au.
