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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KEW BAND
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In the beginning
Kew Band is one of Australia's premiere brass bands. In recent times, the band's strengths have been highlighted by its competition victories, a series of compact disc recordings and its strong involvement in local and other events.
In competition, the band has had outstanding success in recent years, most notably winning the 2000 and 1998 Australian National Brass Band Championship titles. In 1998, the band also made Australian brass band history by simultaneously holding the Australian National, South Australian, Victorian and New South Wales championship titles.
In the studio, the band has recorded several compact discs including Fortuna (ABC Classics), the first commercial brass band disc produced in Australia. Other recent titles include On the March and Sirius (Musos Media). The band is also regularly featured on Strike up the band! on ABC Classic FM.
In the community, the Kew Band regularly plays at local festivals, runs annual concerts and performs at other higher profile events such as the AFL Grand Final parade, the Melbourne ANZAC day parade and, in 2001, the opening ceremony for the Australia v England Rugby Union match at Colonial Stadium.
Overseas highlights for the band inlcuded a tour of Japan in 1999. As a guest of the Japanese Brass Band Association, the Kew Band was the first foreign band to perform at the association's annual festival, Brass Band Festival '99.
The members of the band come from across Melbourne and from a range of professions - from teachers, to engineers, to tradepersons, students, a lawyer, a doctor, as well as professional musicians who still enjoy band music.
Today's Kew Band
Today's Kew Band has its foundations in the Kew City Band (formed in 1890) and the East Kew Citizens' Band (established in 1936). At their prime, these bands were integral parts of the local community, promoting music education and maintaining a strong public presence.
It is said that as Australia embraced television in 1956, the plight of both the Kew City and East Kew Citizens' bands dwindled. This forced the the two bands to amalgamate to ensure their survival and resulted in the formation of the Kew Citizen's Band. Fortunately, the exodus of players was only temporary and the band returned to the 'A' grade competitive standard by the 1970's.
Since then, the band has had continued competition success and community involvement. Perhaps one of the more notable winning performances in the 1980's was on the nationally acclaimed Bert Newton's variety television program, New Faces. Other performances have included regular appearances at the Melbourne Cup, football grand finals as well as numerous 'A' grade competition victories in Victoria and South Australia and at a national level.
As one of Melbourne's leading brass bands, the Kew Band toured the United States in 1984, the Philippines (1980), Guam (1985), New Zealand (1984 & 1992) and Japan (1999).
Previous musical directors of the band include Leif Sundstrup, Tom Paulin and Doug Trottman. The band has benefited greatly from these and other visiting musical directors, such as David King, a cornet soloist and conductor of world reputation.
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