Simon Mitchell helms what he calls “Canberra’s band”, and they’re about to mark a very special birthday. Photo: Australian National Eisteddfod.
Life in Canberra looked very different in 1925.
A flood hit the city’s earliest settlers in February, construction on the Manuka shops started and Government House received a facelift to modernise the property.
Alright, we’re still dealing with wild weather and building sites. But that was also the year when the Canberra City Band formed, making them one of the oldest bands in Australia.
President Simon Mitchell says the past 100 years have seen its members perform for politicians, royalty and even a Pope.
“Back in 1925, they were the ceremonial band for ACT, and did many of the vice-regal functions,” he says.
“They performed at the very first Anzac Day in Canberra … and obviously, when the Queen visited, we played for the Queen.
“When we look back on it, it has been the central spine of a lot of the musical endeavours in Canberra.”
Canberra City Band played its first notes when a group of construction workers arrived in the capital for work.
A newspaper article published in a 1925 edition of the Canberra Advocate, according to a blog post on the band’s website, described a hope that the new band would stop any bad behaviour.
Simon says their practices and performances kept the workers occupied, giving them something to do within the city limits.
“When Canberra was first being built, but also when the new Parliament House was being built, we had a number of people who were working in the construction industry who came and joined,” he says.
“Around that time, Canberra was dry – so there was a fair bit of traffic over the border to Queanbeyan!”
Today, Canberra City Band joins John Agnew Band, Spectrum Big Band and Prism Jazz Ensemble as part of Canberra City Band Inc. This volunteer organisation brings together members to perform at public and private events.
“The band started as a brass band and then became a concert band when it reformed after World War II,” he says.
“It was all male, which was not unusual back in the day. In 1978, women were welcomed into the band.”
Simon describes it as an honour to lead the band during its centenary.
“There was no municipal band or town band,” he said of its founding.
“She’s a grand old institution and she’s meant a lot to people over the years. … It’s Canberra’s band.”
A special concert will be held later this year as part of the celebrations, where each Canberra City Band Inc. ensemble will showcase its style and a musical showcase will take audiences through the band’s history.
He says their next challenge is charting a course for its next 100 years.
“I feel quite young at heart, and it’s the music that’s kept me young at heart … When I look at the people who have either conducted the band or the people who I’ve known as presidents of the band, I’ve got some very big shoes to fill!”
The centenary concert will be held on 16 November at Albert Hall, 100 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, from 1 pm to 10 pm, with various bands performing throughout the day.
Tickets can be purchased from TryBooking and cost $35 (for concession tickets) and $45 (for general admission tickets).
