The Port Lincoln City Band welcomed 34 Victorian School students with teachers and admin staff last week, with a series of musical events held throughout the city.

Port Lincoln City Band was contacted by St Michaels Grammar School’s Musical Director, Chris McGillan, who expressed an interest in visiting Port Lincoln and performing with the City Band.

Chris McGillan said, “I found the City Band’s fantastic website and sent them an email. I received a reply from Valerie (secretary PLCB) who said the band was more than happy to get together with us. From there on we linked in with the High School and after many emails back and forth, we came to Port Lincoln”.

A number of activities were planned to exhibit St Michael’s musical abilities together with local musicians. Tuesday 30^th of June, the night they arrived, was a combined rehearsal with the City Band at the High School hall. Wednesday, St Michaels rehearsed with the Port Lincoln High School band and then performed at Ravendale community complex in a Jazz performance. The Jazz performance included local jazz band Boston Bay Jazz, the Port Lincoln High School Jazz band and St Michaels Big Band and Super Band. The bands from PLHS and SMGS then combined for more great music.

On Thursday the St Michaels students provided a school concert at Pt. Lincoln Primary School and then rehearsed with the PLHS and members of the City Band in preparation for the Combined Concert held Thursday night. The concert was held at the High School hall and music was provided by the Port Lincoln City Band, St Michaels Grammar School bands and the Port Lincoln High School Band and attracted a large audience. The donation entry raised $285 for the Salvation Army Winter Appeal.

Throughout the concert the audience enjoyed a number of performances that included the St Michaels String Quartet, Big Band (directed by Natalie Calia), Super Band and Concert Band. St Michael’s Musical Director handed his baton to student director, Dante Kurth who led the concert band and vocalist Zara Gates in song.

The concert finale was a combination of all musicians, forming a “Megaband”. The Megaband was directed by Steve Campbell and Chris Mc Gillan, for an amazing performance with fantastic sound. With over 60 musicians performing at once the audience was engulfed with music that was thrilling and inspiring.

On Friday St Michaels performed a concert at St. Josephs School, bringing the local students a fun filled finale to their school term.   Friday night the St Michaels students gathered at the Lincoln Hotel Sarin’s Bar to perform a farewell concert. In addition to the String Quartet and Big and Super bands, individual performer, Hannah Campbell sang some songs that she had written.  

The students and staff enjoyed their time in Port Lincoln and staff noted that Port Lincoln is “friendly and beautiful”. An open invitation was extended to the Port Lincoln City Band to visit St Michaels School in Victoria and combine again in concert.

The Port Lincoln City Band would like to thank the PL High School for participating and for the use of their hall. Thankyou, also, to the Salvation Army members who attended the concert and accepted donations at the door.

Of course the biggest thankyou must go to the St Michaels Grammar School students and staff for travelling such a long distance to perform in Pt Lincoln. All participants and audience members thoroughly enjoyed the music, and the school students were well behaved and wonderful representatives for their school.

The visit from SMGS has linked well into the City Band’s recently formed vision and sets the ball rolling for upcoming activities planned by the City Band.

The Port Lincoln City Band’s aim is to provide enjoyable experiences for its members and community through performances and development opportunities. By joining with St Michael’s school band and sharing them with the local schools they can say they are achieving their goal.

 The Port Lincoln City Band aims to encourage students to continue their music beyond their schooling years and provides an outlet for any musician returning to music after a break. Activities, such as joining with visiting bands, are just one way of achieving that goal.

The PLCB also provides a Learners band that encourages young and old to join, and will offer use of band instruments to those who do not have their own or cannot afford to hire or buy their own.

PLCB Secretary, Valerie Staunton, says “by sharing our resources with the schools we hope to encourage music students to keep playing once they leave school. We want to create and maintain pathways for musicians to continue playing where ever they may go”

Anyone interested in joining the City Band can come to rehearsals on Monday nights at the rear of the Civic Hall, Washington Street entrance, upstairs in the Studio (above the Media Room). Rehearsals are held 7.30pm every Monday night for 2 hours and are run by Music Director Michael Hester.

Brass, woodwind, string and percussion instrumentalists are welcome to join. The band is a fun environment to learn and play in, for men and women, young and old.

a video of the City Band playing one of their concert pieces, “Coolsville,” can be seen and heard on You Tube.