Dear Richard,

On Sunday the 19th November 2006 Monash Concert Band, combined for the second year running, entertained a very appreciative audience for an “Afternoon at the Prom’s.” 53 Musicians from the Monash Concert Band and 22 from the RAN Band Melbourne performed a spectacular afternoon of music.

Yet again it was an exhilarating experience that will go in the history books of Monash Concert Band. Such pieces as “Festive Overture – Shostakovich, The Magic Flute – Mozart, and Die Fledermaus – Strauss”, although were trying pieces for an amateur band were again performed at professional levels.

Our Concert was enhanced this year with soprano, Kirsten McMillan, who is a member of the David Ashton-Smith Singers Australia, one of Australia’s premier choirs. Kirsten performed a WWII medley arranged by Sir Bill (Hughes) Songs from Fantasia on British Sea Songs, Pomp and Circumstance No. 1, Jerusalem and, of course we mustn’t leave out the good old Aussie music, Waltzing Matilda.

How very proud I was that day and to top it off I knew that Ray and Jenny Taylor were in attendance. They were thrilled with the concert and we’ll be meeting again at the Aussie Reunion.

Next year our concert is preliminary booked for Armistice Day, I have many thoughts what will happen at that concert and I’m starting to get the wheels in motion already.

Earlier this year we were visited by Captain Jon Ridley who put Monash Band through its paces. Jon was as professional as one would expect and it was an honour to have him conduct my band and we appreciate him taking time out of his very busy schedule. Jon, we are sure you will enjoy BRNC and we hope that one day if you, or the band – any RMB for that matter, would grace our rehearsal room once again. Jon from my entire membership we thank you for that wonderful experience.

We are in preparation for our last gig of the year, City of Monash Carols by Candlelight. Again I am proud to be the Director of Music for this event each year where we get to bring Christmas Spirit to as many as 22,000 local and not so local residents. It is hard to explain the buzz one gets when organizing such a huge event, albeit just the music side. I will send some pics of the event in a further bulletin as well as a report and pics from this years RMB Reunion Australasia.

Yours Aye

Tommo

Michael Thompson
Music Director
Monash Concert Band
Director of Music
City of Monash Carols by Candlelight
mcband@optusnet.com.au