The friendly entertainment contest at St Michaels Worship Centre was a great showcase of bands of all sizes and grades as 3 D Grade, 2 C Grade and 2 A Grade bands played a wide selection of entertaining pieces for an appreciative crowd. UCB, after a programme of Marching Down Broadway, Funiculi Funicula, When The Stars Began To Fall and Tribute to Bob Hope, placed third in a very close contest behind K & N Spring Gully Brass and Enfield Brass.

Congratulations to both those bands for their excellent results.

Scores for the day are listed below.

Hahndorf Town Band -  Street March  Drill – 82/100, Music – 72/100. Total = 154/200   Drum Major =16/20      Entertainment contest = 91/100

Enfield Brass – Street March Drill – 90/100, Music – 82/100. Total = 172/200 (Third Place)  Drum Major = 18/20 (Winner – Phil Benger)  Entertainment contest = 95/100 (Second place)

Glenelg Brass Band – Street March Drill – 82/100, Music = 70/100. Total = 152/200   Drum Major = 14/20    Entertainment contest = 85/100

Nuriootpa Concert Band – Street March Drill = 83/100, Music = 63/100. Total = 149/200    Drum Major = 14/20  Entertainment contest = 80/100

Unley Concert Band - Street March Drill = 88/100, Music = 92/100. Total = 180/200  (Winner)    Drum Major = 17/20   Entertainment contest = 94/100 (Third place)

Warriparinga Youth Brass – Street March Drill 83/100, Music = 68/100. Total = 151/200   Drum Major = 16/20   Entertainment contest = 88/100

K & N Spring Gully Brass – Street March Drill = 84/100, Music = 90/100. Total = 174/200 (Second place)   Drum Major = 17/20   Entertainment contest = 96/100  (Winner)

Thank you to the organising team at Hahndorf Town Band for hosting such a great day out for South Australian Banding. Bring on 2013!

Unley Concert Band will be appearing at the Hahndorf Band Festival on Saturday 12th May. The band will be participating in the adjudicated street march which begins at 10am down Balhannah Road, Hahndorf (from the Hahndorf Band Hall to the  Hahndorf Academy). UCB will then play a short entertainment programme at St Michael’s Church from 11am in a friendly contest against 6 other brass and concert bands.

Thank you to Hahndorf Town Band and the South Australian Band Association for organising and hosting this great annual event

Come along for a nice day out in the Hills and show your support for UCB and South Australian banding.

Unley Concert Band is taking a trip through the ‘Land of the Free’ on Friday 22nd June 2012 at the Norwood Concert Hall, 175 The Parade, Norwood at 7:30pm. Come on a journey with us from the bright lights of Hollywood and the skyscrapers of New York all the way to the Wild West when the band presents “Stars and Stripes”, a flag-waving extravaganza of all things American!  Featuring music by John Philip Sousa, Leonard Bernstein, Irving Berlin and much more!

Tickets $20 (with children under 12 free). Tables of 8-10.

BYO basket supper (alcohol allowed) and there are prizes to be won!

Don’t forget to dress up in your most patriotic outfit.

Contact Liz Thompson for bookings on ethompson@internode.on.net  or phone: 0422 977 339

The band was in large numbers, despite the early hour, on Wednesday morning at the Unley Memorial where a larger than average crowd, including Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne and Unley RSL President Les Partridge, gathered to pay their respects to those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. The band played several hymns to accompany the many people who lay wreaths and rosemary on the memorial and finished the service with the National Anthems and a rousing rendition of Waltzing Matilda.

After a provided breakfast at the Unley RSL, the band headed into the city to march in the city parade. The band was required to march twice this year, firstly to lead World War II veterans and secondly to lead the Next of Kin. The band ‘s 35 players marched down North Terrace and King William Street to the marches – Invercargill, Army of the Nile, Voice of the Guns, Waltzing Matilda and National Emblem.

On this extremely significant day for all Australians, UCB was honoured to be asked to participate in honour of our country’s dedicated servicemen - past, present and future. 

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn,

 At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,  

We will remember them. Lest we forget”

Other members of the band performed commendably in their respective sections with strong performances all round – David Eldridge and Bronwyn Kenny (Open Bass Trombone), Andrew Edgeworth (Open Trumpet), Georga Byron (Open Clarinet), Terry Duchene (Open Flute), Anthony Rogers (Open Baritone – for K&N and Euphonium for UCB) and Phil Harris (Open Tenor Trombone – for K & N).

Thank you to the accompanists – Tanika Richards, Anna Coppens and Alison Harris for aiding our members in their great results.

Any member who had the bravery to perform in front of an adjudicator and a discerning audience has to be commended and UCB are proud of each and every member who gave the solo and/or party events a go. We hope that everybody met their own personal goals in doing so. We look forward to our members appearing in full force for the upcoming State Championship solo/party events  in August and potentially the 2013 Nationals.

Scores:

Geelong Concert Band:              Hymn 46, Test 185, Own Choice 188, March 45  Total:464

Grainger Wind Symphony:     Hymn  40, Test 170, Own Choice 168, March 42 Total: 420

North West Wind Ensemble:  Hymn 49, Test 198, Own Choice 197, March 49  Total: 493

Unley Concert Band:                    Hymn 48, Test 190, Own Choice 195, March 47  Total 480

The band also placed first in the Open A Grade Concert street march competition, with an aggregate score of 138 – a fine achievement for our marching band, who are now 3-time National champions! There was much positive feedback from the adjudicators, fellow bandsmen and onlookers about the fantastic sound that the band produced on the march, particularly from members of highly ranked A Grade bands who were most impressed that the band was able to both march and compete at such a high level onstage in the same year.

These outstanding performances could not have been possible without the hard work, enthusiasm and spirit of every player on stage, the fantastic support the band received both in the contest room with a lovely standing ovation from a large number of people and the numerous messages of support from home and interstate. Thanks to Brendan Kenny, our tireless secretary (and future bass drum teacher!) for being an integral part of who we are and what we do, our hardworking drum major Jeff Hale for his excellent work drilling the marching band to success. And of course, our passionate and accomplished musical director for his passion and for never failing to believe in what UCB can achieve!

Go the Double Blues!

Featuring a variety of music, including the band’s programme for the upcoming Australian National Band Championships at Easter. The programme will include a trip down the El Camino Real, a visit to the Broadway smash hit Wicked, an atmospheric tribute to the Sydney Opera House and the South Australian premiere of Australian composer Graham Lloyd’s Concerto for Band. And much more!

Come along to the Unley Town Hall (Oxford Terrace, Unley) and hear one of South Australia’s premiere concert bands in action under the direction of Dr Kevin Cameron.  

Claude Hale with David Bremner and UCB trombone sectionClaude Hale leads UCB at the Glenelg Pageant

The band was honoured to visit and play for Claude for the past several years at his home each November after the Norwood Christmas Pageant and this became one of the highlights of many band members’ year.

Claude will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his son Jeff (UCB Drum Major), his wife Heather and their family.

Frank will be sadly missed by his banding family and our thoughts are with Frank’s wife Malda , his family and friends.

Unley Concert Band marches at Loxton Mardi Gras 2011

This year will mark the parade’s 55th anniversary and UCB is pleased to be marching once again in the event to celebrate this milestone. The band will likely play a short concert of entertaining tunes in the rotunda after the parade at 1:30pm. All friends of the band are welcome to attend.