Music that moves you is great as far as Leanne Walton is concerned.
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The City of Wollongong Junior Wind Band did just that at the recent Hunter Region Band Championships in Newcastle.
Ms Walton, the band's musical director was ecstatic with the performance. She said the competition had a traditional formal contest as well as an additional entertainment section.
In this section performances are judged on entertainment appeal as well as their musical proficiency.
The Wollongong band themed their performance "Music for the Feet", encouraging audiences to clap, march, dance and sing along and spicing up their performance with colourful costumes.
"When the young players in the group came off stage exclaiming "that was fun", I felt we had totally achieved our goal. To win first prize on top of that was an exciting bonus," Ms Walton said.
The group toured to Newcastle together with the City of Wollongong Junior Brass Band.
Both bands consist of mostly teenage musicians but include players as young as eight.
The band is also supported by a small number of adult players, mostly parents and grandparents who love to be involved with their kids, demonstrating music is for life.
Ms Walton said the philosophy of "music for all" was also an important motivator of the bands' activities.
This was evident with the bands beginning their tour by connecting with Woonona High School band to provide a workshop and subsequent performance for year 7 and 8 students.
This was repeated later with Marrickville West Public School band.
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The Wollongong bands are currently working towards State Band Championships in August and then some local concerts later in the year.
New members are welcome. More details at www.wollongongband.org,au/