Geraldton City Band achieved an outstanding result of second place

Last weekend saw the Geraldton City Band travel to Perth to compete in the 2016 State Band Championships. This annual event is a competition for both brass and concert bands and also includes soloist sections. This year, the Geraldton City Band (GCB) entered in the C Grade Brass Band section against two Perth bands, Town of Victoria Park, and City of Perth, and achieved an outstanding result of second place. Town of Victoria Park took out first place with 168 points, with GCB only three points behind on 165. That score also earned GCB the Les Nisbett trophy for the highest aggregate points awarded to a country band over the whole competition. One of the band's members, Melanie Penny, also scored a fantastic mark of 92 for her solo performance in the Brass C grade solo section.

This year has seen a large increase in member numbers for GCB which saw them performing with thirty five members on stage. The band is fortunate to have several music teachers from local schools as members and in turn, they are encouraging their talented students to come and join in. The brass band allows them to experience yet another genre of music and exposes them to a mature community group setting. GCB also maintains a strong bond with the Morawa School Brass Band and have quite a few of their players sign up after moving to Geraldton.

The State competition is one event that the GCB endeavours to attend most years. It helps the band maintain a high standard which then flows through to all other engagements, and this recent achievement is certainly something for all of us in the City of Geraldton to be proud of.

The band rehearses on Wednesday evenings, so if you would like to come and join in or have a listen, please call Mary on 0417 910 045, for some further information.