PEOPLE WE MEET
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
I was born and grew up in Wollongong and have just turned 21. My love for music began in early primary school, learning classical guitar and then when I reached high school I was introduced to the trombone by my music teacher. Since then it's fair to say that music has become my life. I firstly joined the Concord Concert Band at the Wollongong Conservatorium and soon after joined bands in the jazz program as well as the Wind Ensemble. In 2008 I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Illawarra and South East Regions Touring Ensemble which toured throughout the country as well as to Malaysia during my four years with them. I also began playing with the Eros Big Band in 2009 - and I only now realise how important this was to my development as a musician. I was playing alongside the best - Joe Epps, former lead trombonist of the Daly Wilson Big Band as well as composer extraordinaire Wal Gregory and trombonist Dick Crampton. I really can't put into writing how much I owe those guys.
In 2009 aged 15 I formed my own big band - a 17-piece jazz band along with three vocalists called the South Coast Big Band which I still lead and play in six years later. The band is primarily made up of Wollongong-based musicians, although now also includes friends I've made in Sydney. Our next performance is downstairs at the Builders Club in Wollongong on Sunday, August 16, from 2.30pm-5.30pm. While studying under legendary bass trombonist and conductor Andrew Snell at the Wollongong Conservatorium I was successful in several exams as well as being accepted in various orchestral programs like an Australian Opera and Ballet program where I got the opportunity to play Madame Butterfly and Aida along with professional musicians from their orchestra at the Opera House. I also toured through Los Angeles and San Francisco during my final year of high school in 2012 with the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music Jazz Orchestra, playing lead trombone. Eric Dunan was our director on the tour.
In mid-2012 I was appointed conductor of the City of Wollongong Junior Brass Band. Since my time conducting them the band has been very successful, last year coming second in the Wollongong Eisteddfod band section as well as first in the NSW Band Championships Junior C Grade Brass Band section. This year we entered the National Band Championships at the Seymour Centre in Sydney in the Junior Brass C grade and were awarded second place, which is a huge achievement with such a young band (the majority of the band is early high school aged). We enjoyed more success last month when we won the Wollongong Eisteddfod Band section playing a march, Belphegor, as well as music from Harry Potter. To continue the growth of the Junior Brass Band I decided to form a beginner band at the beginning of 2014. Myself and several kind members from the Wollongong Brass Band Association toured to various primary schools to recruit new students with absolutely no musical experience. All the students we worked with got to at least try out three or more brass instruments. This proved to be very successful, and those who joined the beginner band in 2014 moved into the Junior Brass Band this year. The beginner band is running once again this year and hopefully they will also all move up the ranks. Anyone interested should contact me. They don't need to have any musical experience.
I've been studying in the Sydney Conservatorium of Music jazz course since 2013, where I have been so incredibly fortunate to learn from the masters, James Greening, Dave Panichi, Phil Slater, James Muller and Judy Bailey to name just some. I play in their top Jazz Orchestra on bass trombone and am touring Los Angeles, Chicago and New York in December with special guest James Muller on guitar, with specially commissioned works for us by German composer and pianist Florian Ross. I also am a regular member of Judy Bailey's Jazz Connection and play trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba and the occasional saxophone in various local and Sydney musicals and bands. I have taught at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and continue to teach privately, which I really enjoy doing. I look forward to where music will take me next.