The South Gippsland Concert Band is aiming for the big time.
By Geoff Ellis
THEY need ten grand and an oboe.
Every Monday night Kate Harmon and Graeme Cruickshank navigate the winding road from Coal Creek back to their homes in Wonthaggi. As headlights bounce off the yellow road signs they review the rehearsal just ended and discuss the next gig. That'll be the fundraiser in July.
They need to raise a heap. The national band championships will be held next Easter weekend at the Newcastle City Hall. That's more than a day's drive away, so there are breaks to plan and overnight accommodation to book. For some people planes are the only option so there's an airborne contingent to co-ordinate so the South Gippsland Concert Band can assemble backstage at the Newcastle Civic Centre to play three pieces over four days.
THEY need ten grand and an oboe.
Every Monday night Kate Harmon and Graeme Cruickshank navigate the winding road from Coal Creek back to their homes in Wonthaggi. As headlights bounce off the yellow road signs they review the rehearsal just ended and discuss the next gig. That'll be the fundraiser in July.
They need to raise a heap. The national band championships will be held next Easter weekend at the Newcastle City Hall. That's more than a day's drive away, so there are breaks to plan and overnight accommodation to book. For some people planes are the only option so there's an airborne contingent to co-ordinate so the South Gippsland Concert Band can assemble backstage at the Newcastle Civic Centre to play three pieces over four days.
And they need uniforms. Shirts, maybe blazers. Purple is a stand-out colour and, as Graeme says, when you're wandering the streets of Newcastle, you need a shirt that shouts "This is serious. We're serious. We're here to compete." Better make that twelve grand.
As the nascent budget blows out, the need for an oboist to augment the current line up emerges. They’ve got clarinets, saxes, trumpets, trombones and all the percussion. The higher, reedy tones of an oboe could sit above the clarinets to add depth and lustre to the sound that reaches the audience.
The band doesn't have an oboist but Kate has volunteered to learn. She already plays sax, clarinet and violin. Oboes have two reeds so the technique is quite different to the single reed instruments. She's up for the challenge but first they need an oboe.
As well as the fundraiser concerts there's a couple of trivia nights and paid gigs. They also do regular gigs at the Lions Club Market in Inverloch where they have money tins out for any donations. Next thing you know it’ll be Carols by Candlelight and then suddenly it will be 2023 and counting down to Easter in Newcastle. Maybe Santa can drop off an oboe.
Graeme pulls up at Kate's house. As she unloads her instruments the veranda light comes on. “If we had two oboes we could leave one in the Pavilion,” Kate sighs and Graeme drives off, humming.
South Gippsland Concert Band (SGCB) is a community music organisation based at the Coal Creek Community Park and Museum in Korumburra. They have provided a variety of music to the communities of Gippsland for over 40 years including yearly performances at the Mossvale Park 'Music for the People' and various carols by candlelight.
It’s a welcoming and diverse community, always open for any new members or suggestions for performances. From school students, to working adults, to retirees our group provides a place where anyone can come and have a play, regardless of ability level or age.
Rehearsals are from 7-9pm on Mondays during term time in the auditorium at Coal Creek.
Graeme says if you’re interested, just turn up, contact him on 0457 099 314
or visit http://www.sgconband.net/
As the nascent budget blows out, the need for an oboist to augment the current line up emerges. They’ve got clarinets, saxes, trumpets, trombones and all the percussion. The higher, reedy tones of an oboe could sit above the clarinets to add depth and lustre to the sound that reaches the audience.
The band doesn't have an oboist but Kate has volunteered to learn. She already plays sax, clarinet and violin. Oboes have two reeds so the technique is quite different to the single reed instruments. She's up for the challenge but first they need an oboe.
As well as the fundraiser concerts there's a couple of trivia nights and paid gigs. They also do regular gigs at the Lions Club Market in Inverloch where they have money tins out for any donations. Next thing you know it’ll be Carols by Candlelight and then suddenly it will be 2023 and counting down to Easter in Newcastle. Maybe Santa can drop off an oboe.
Graeme pulls up at Kate's house. As she unloads her instruments the veranda light comes on. “If we had two oboes we could leave one in the Pavilion,” Kate sighs and Graeme drives off, humming.
South Gippsland Concert Band (SGCB) is a community music organisation based at the Coal Creek Community Park and Museum in Korumburra. They have provided a variety of music to the communities of Gippsland for over 40 years including yearly performances at the Mossvale Park 'Music for the People' and various carols by candlelight.
It’s a welcoming and diverse community, always open for any new members or suggestions for performances. From school students, to working adults, to retirees our group provides a place where anyone can come and have a play, regardless of ability level or age.
Rehearsals are from 7-9pm on Mondays during term time in the auditorium at Coal Creek.
Graeme says if you’re interested, just turn up, contact him on 0457 099 314
or visit http://www.sgconband.net/