19 Sep 2023
Cooper Mesa and Flynn Bunn were part of the award-winning Griffith Combined Schools Band performance at the Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival last weekend. Conducted by teacher Rhys Thomas, the band managed to win gold in the 2023 Raymond Hanson Event.
The Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival is open to school wind, brass, big bands, string ensembles and orchestras from around the country. The competition caters to all ability levels and sees over 10 000 students perform at the event.
The Raymond Hanson event requires students to play for approximately 11 minutes. The Griffith band's set included Amazing Grace, Celtic Air and Dance, March of the Diggers, the Avengers, Rum-ba, and Somewhere Out There.
Tour mates, the Griffith East Public School Band, also managed to win silver in the Robert McAnally event for Primary School Concert bands. Beyond the competition, students also got to work with world-class performers, such as the NSW Police Band and educator Garry Davis to hone their craft further.
Well done to both bands, and special thanks to the educators and members of the Griffith City Band who made this trip possible. If you are interested in joining the combined school band, rehearsals are held at Griffith East Public School on Thursday afternoons between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. People of all ages and abilities are welcome. For more information, contact Toni on 0409 738 822.