News

This year's festival was attended by 64 bands! The biggest ever! All received on stage workshops from one of our very hard working adjudicators James Brice and Andrew Watkins. It was very exciting to hear 9 performances of 'Danzon' written for the A grade section. Congratulations to Cherrybrook PS, St Ives North PS, Balgowlah Heights PS, Waitara PS, Lindfield PS and Mona Vale PS for receiving a music award for excellent performances! A big thank you for Gavin Staines for creating an event that promotes excellence in performance from beginner and developing Primary school bands. It's also promotes Australian band...

I'm very privileged to be chosen to compose for the North Shore Primary Schools Band Festival this year! (Information and entry details are here on the home page). I've chosen to go with a Latin style piece for the commissioned work. I've enjoyed playing and teaching a number of Latin pieces over the last few years including Danzon no. 2 by Marquez. Danzon is one of the earlier styles of Latin music/dance, dating back to the 1880's. Cha Cha and Mambo developed from this style. I must admit I didn't even know it was a style before I started researching...

A fantastic premiere of 'A Story To Tell' at the NSW Schools Band Festival by Matthew Pearce Public School. An amazing band program with amazing year 4 (second year) players. Congratulations conductor Renee Boland on a fine performance!   'HARD KNOX' written exclusively for the Knox Grammar Prep School Band in 2013 is now available. Check it out in the level 2.5 section.   Nice to meet and catch up with band directors from all over Australia at ANBOC in Brisbane over the weekend. Music heading off to schools in Queensland and Victoria. 'Remember The ANZACs' was particularly popular -...

I've just finished my first level 1.5 piece - a commissioned work for the Matthew Pearce Public School Intermediate Band. 'A Story To Tell' is a bit like a theme and variations. Contrasting sections that use the same melody 'tell the story'. I'm looking forward to rehearsing the band in early August a few weeks before they give the premiere performance at the NSW Schools Band Festival on August 19th.

Thank you BandNSW for choosing 'Schaefer's Old Time Dances' for the Junior C Grade list of test pieces for the 2018 NSW State Band Championships! A new feature this year is having a list of four test pieces to choose from for each grade.