Anzac Newport 2021
Newport is a very significant part of our banding history. Newport RSL ANZAC service is a very special part of our day.
Oakleigh Brass Blog
Anzac 2021 Oakleigh
Seems very fitting that our first event after COVID lockdowns was an ANZAC service at Oakleigh RSL. The RSL Hall was as full as permitted.
New march cards 2021
After lockdown, Oakleigh Band was so excited to be part of Anzac Day again after 2020’s COVID safe dawn service in our gardens. We started our preparation for ANZAC 2021 by creating new sets of march cards – readable and waterproof. Band member helped to transcribe our favourite marches, collate sets of cards, fill plastic envelopes. Marching is not the easiest activity, but it is made much harder when you can’t actually read the notes.
New Year, New Rehearsal Venue
Oakleigh Hall is undergoing renovations so Oakleigh Brass is on the move. Fortunately, we haven’t had to travel far! We are using the wonderful Senior Citizens Hall, right next to Oakleigh Hall. The first rehearsal of 2020 was great, the second was somewhat damp, with heavy rain cutting out the lights. Prompt work by the Council team to restore electricity meant that we still could rehearse – in the library foyer! Not too sure how long we will be in this new venue, but we are ready for the challenge.
Advent Gloria Concert
Combining two wonderful community music traditions – a glorious choir and band, performing a Gloria! Our Musical Director, David Keeffe, composed a setting of the Gloria for choir and brass band. Conducted by Robert Dora, it was the main work in the Monash Chorale concert “Advent Gloria” where Oakleigh Brass were featured guests. The concert took place on 1st December 2019 at Holy Saviour Church, Vermont South. The choir presented a varied program of Christmas music, with the highlight being a Consort of Choral Christmas Carols by “P.D.Q. Bach”. The three songs have the delightful titles of Throw the Yule Log...
Our new uniforms have arrived
Oakleigh Brass is celebrating the arrival of their new jackets, by marching in the Melbourne Anzac parade. Brass bands are a traditional form of community music, and it seems we have a traditional problem! We were amused to find this snippet from 1918 Annual General meeting minutes: We again wish the committee to take into consideration the matter of uniforms for those members in need of them, and others who have only part of their uniform. They are truly a motley array. Oakleigh AGM 1918 So, when we found ourselves in a similar position, we knew we needed to...
Voices of War and Peace concert
“Voices of War & Peace” commemorated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending the first World War, with music written and/or performed around the time of the First World War and other items with a War and Peace theme. The concert was held at the St David’s Uniting Church on Sunday 21st October 2018. The program featured the World Premiere of “For the Fallen” composed by our Musical Director David Keeffe. This was composed for brass band and voice and featured the baritone Kristian Gregory. Listen here: For the Fallen The program also included the march, “The...
Our first Welcome Project Graduates
This is exciting…. the wonderful people in our Welcome Project are graduating, and joining the main band. During 2018, Oakleigh Brass members Dan and Claire shared their musical expertise to encourage new ensemble skills. We asked our new graduates about their experience: “I first joined the Welcome Project at Oakleigh Brass Band in February 2018. Prior to joining, I had never played a brass instrument or played music in a band. The Welcome Project has been a wonderful opportunity for me to learn a new instrument, in a friendly, non-intimidating environment and I’ve been able to appreciate music from a...
Oakleigh Brass goes Green
Thanks to a great idea from one of our members, we are striving to reduce the amount of material that Oakleigh Brass sends to landfill. We are still taking a break during rehearsals for welcome cup of tea and a biscuit, but now ask members to bring their own mug! It’s a small step to take – but one that means we are not sending 1,200 + used polystyrene cups to landfill each year. We’re busy encouraging other green measures with lift sharing, as well as trying to recycle everything we can.
Innovations concert review
Sunday 22nd October 2017, our concert “125 Years of Innovation”, celebrated 125 years of brass bands in Oakleigh and innovations that had occurred over that time period. We played a great range of genres spanning the years 1892 to 2017 and was accompanied by visual presentations spanning the same years, that represented the history of brass bands in Oakleigh, world events, and innovations that had occurred over that time. Pieces such as “Ghost Busters”, “Instant Concert” and “A Whiter Shade of Pale” were accompanied by unique visual presentations. The concert also featured the marches “Oakleigh”, originally commissioned in 1988 in...
So how old are we?
Thanks to TROVE’s wonderful project to digitise local newspapers Oakleigh Brass has discovered that it is older than it knew. In the mid 1980’s, Norm Best, then Secretary of the band, performed extensive research, and discovered that Oakleigh and District Brass Band was rehearsing in 1910. Norm carefully documented his findings in a book “A history of Oakleigh City Band : old bandsmen never die – they just blow away”, available at the Victorian State Library (and from the band). Casual searching on TROVE lead us to an earlier news article, asking for support to start a band in 1892....
Heroes and Villains
Sunday 28th May at 3:00 PM 2017 Two great local groups are joining together for a wonderful Sunday afternoon of music on Sunday 28th May 2017. Monash Chorale and Oakleigh Brass proudly presented “Heroes and Villains“. An afternoon concert at Oakleigh Baptist Church filled with favourite songs from shows and films plus the wonderful Big Band sound. Together, we delivered an exciting concert to delight the heart. The concert raised money for Fusion, an Oakleigh based group. Find out more about the wonderful work undertaken by Fusion here Thanks to Oakleigh Baptist Church, Monash Council, Link Community Health...
Toot! Sing! Bang!
Sunday 5th March, 2:30 PM 2017 A wonderful afternoon of musical delights, in the company of other local musicans. Oakleigh Brass is joining with these great community groups, at Oakleigh Anglican, corner of Warrigal Road and Princes Highway: John Mallinson Youth Band, Monash Drumming Circle, Moorabbin Brass, The Liddiard Gallery Performers Toot sing bang Poster Icons made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas for 2016 Click on the Santa hat to hear one of our carols! Or look for “Oakleigh Brass” on You Tube. Happy Christmas – and look out for us throughout 2017 as we celebrate 125 years of Brass in Oakleigh.
Sport of Kings concert
Sunday 9th October, 2:30 PM Oakleigh Hall, Drummond St, Oakleigh Our 2016 major concert this year featured a work by, Melbourne composer, Brenton Broadstock “The Sport of Kings”, together with other favourite musical items celebrating our musical relationships with horses (and kings) (and queens). Oakleigh Brass were joined by some very special guests. Our first guest was the Oakleigh Brass prize winner from this year’s Waverley Eisteddfod, playing a wonderful solo “Glen Eden” by Charles Storm, accompanied by the band. Our other special guests were the wonderful Moorabbin Brass.
Sing and Swing
Two great local groups joined together for a wonderful Sunday afternoon of music on 22nd May 2016. Monash Chorale and Oakleigh Brass proudly presented “Sing and Swing“. An afternoon concert at Oakleigh Baptist Church filled with favourite songs from shows and films plus the wonderful Big Band Swing sound. Together, we delivered a exciting concert to delight the heart. With over 60 performers, we ensured that the music was a delight. The final item, combining Monash Chorale, Oakleigh Brass and joined by the vocal talents of our wonderful audience attempted to raise the roof! The concert raised money for Fusion,...
Accessibility Update – New Rehearsal venue
Oakleigh Brass is very excited to announce that we are now able to welcome members with restricted mobility. We are rehearsing downstairs, in the Main Hall, Drummond Street, Oakleigh. This new rehearsal venue from February 2016 has great access. One of our newest players is ready for rehearsal as he no longer needs to climb any steps. If you have restricted mobility but thought this would prevent you from playing music in a band, would you like to join us? Great – just follow the link: Join Oakleigh Brass