An end of year performance featuring all Redland City bands will wrap up a year celebrating 35 years of band history
The performance will be held at the Smith Street hall, Cleveland from 5pm for a 6.30pm concert on November 23 . Entry is $10 and includes a free sausage in bread. Band memorabilia spanning 35 years will be on display and the concert band will perform In Celebration, composed by Ralph Hultgren for the band's 10th anniversary.
The bands have been a noteable inclusion in Redland festivities and has performed at the opening of Victoria Point Cineplex and MyHorizon, competed at the National Band championships over several years and performed in regional towns including Stanthorpe, Buderim, Boonah, Toowoomba and Chinchilla.
Founding member Rob Hanbidge said the his association with the bands grew from a conversation with his neighbour.
"I was living at Mount Cotton and I happened to be talking to my neighbour Harley Axford. He mentioned that his brother Perry Axford was in the process of setting up a brass band in the Redlands that I might like to join. That was the beginning of the Redland Shire Brass Band (now Redland City Bands)," he said.
Council funded the purchase of all of the instruments and the newly built Redlands Cultural Centre (now incorporated with the Redland Performing Arts Centre) was offered for free for rehearsals and concerts.
"Back then the band was a bit of a draw card and for our concerts we had very nice programs printed on glossy paper with the names of all the players and the music we were playing," Mr Hanbidge said.
Life Member and beginner band conductor Shirley Goodbar said she had a career spanning 60 years and her five years with the band was a memorable segment.
"Those of us who have the privilege of spending much of our lives working in such a rich culture as instrumental music are truly blessed. My special pleasure came from teaching a band contingent to march so they could support the community more fully for community activities. Anzac Day and festivals are more exciting and much more colourful when a community has its own band," she said.
Current musical director Peter Francis started conducting the bands in 1992, leaving to conduct the Queensland Youth Orchestra wind ensemble.
"I was once again lucky enough to be appointed to the position of conductor of The Redland City Concert band. Wow what a difference I found within the organisation since leaving. The organisation has grown to three concert bands, two stage bands and a jazz improvisation group. There were so many members across the different levels of bands," Mr Francis said.
"In our 35th year I can now be very proud of where we have come from and I now look towards where we are going in the future. The obvious area of growth is in membership of our bands so that every group has full instrumentation."
Interested people can contact redlandcitybands@gmail.com
