BUDDING conductors throughout the city will have the opportunity to hone their skills this year thanks to Country Arts SA and Regional Arts Step Up funding.
Following a successful year which culminated in securing a swathe of awards at the Lion’s Club Blue Lake Brass Band contest in November, the Mount Gambier City Band recently received the funding to undertake the Learners to Leaders project.
This will enable emerging conductors to undertake training with experienced and distinguished band leader Wally Pope, who will visit the band on a monthly basis through the first half of this year.
Mr Pope has been a band conductor, trainer and adjudicator for many years, as well as having a 17-year career as a full-time musician with the Australian Army.
He has served as an instructor at the Defence Force School of Music, has conducted a number of community bands to success and conducted the Victorian State Youth Band and City of Traralgon band on separate European tours.
Mount Gambier City Band president Craig Wood said securing the services of Mr Pope was a real coup for the local band and would add to recent efforts to strengthen the community-focused band for the future.
“The players dedicate countless volunteer hours to entertain and represent the community, so it is great to be able to gain some professional tuition from someone like Mr Pope to reward and encourage their efforts,” he said.
Mr Wood added that any interested community members seeking to improve their conducting skills would be welcome to take advantage of the opportunity and join the Learners to Leaders project.
“The band’s purpose is to support the development of music locally and to provide such opportunities to the community,” he said.
Aside from training local conductors, Mr Pope will also work with the band’s leaders, musicians and tutors in the senior band and development program.
As the current musical director of Ararat City Band, the link with the local band will further strengthen the traditional musical connections between the regional communities in the South East and Western Victoria.
“There are lots of commonalities between bands in our area and being able to access support regionally and without reliance on city networks is a real bonus and a positive outcome from Regional Arts funding,” Mr Wood said.
Contact the Mount Gambier City Band at mountgambiercityband@gmail.com for more information on joining the band or taking part in the project, which will commence in February.
