ABOUT WESTERN BRASS
Western Brass was established in 2011 as a joint venture between the Footscray-Yarraville City Band and the Hyde Street Youth Band to promote brass music in the western suburbs of Melbourne. This brand new band gives the players that graduate from the Youth Band the opportunity to further develop their musical skills in a more advanced ensemble and also provides the opportunity for people of all ages to kickstart their music making ambitions in a fun and friendly environment.
As the band grows and develops, more and more opportunities for public performance will be provided and if desired the possibility of competitions will also be incorporated into the activities of Western Brass. It is hoped that regular performances will be programed in the western region and will include many local festivals and events including the Christmas Carols Concert in Yarraville Gardens. Western Brass is a fantastic opportunity for the people in the western region to get involved in making music. Just like the Footscray-Yarraville City Band and the Hyde St Youth Band, Western Brass will be made up of the instrumentation of a traditional brass band – that is cornets or trumpets, tenor horns, euphoniums, baritones, trombones, tubas and percussion. Rehearsals are 7:30-9pm on Tuesday nights during school terms. |
About our Musical Director - Jared McCunnie
Jared is an award-winning Melburnian composer, specialising in programmatic compositions for large wind and brass ensembles. Jared’s works have been performed by international and national artists including A4 Brass Quartet (UK), scapegoat (France), Fountain City Brass Band (USA), Brighouse and Rastrick Band (UK), Fletcher Mitchell (Yamaha Performing Artist), PLEXUS and Ensemble Liaison. Jared is in his final year of a double Bachelor degree of Law (Honours) and Music (Composition Specialisation) at Monash University.
Jared has been actively involved in the Victorian banding scene since 2007, learning at Moreland Junior Band, before progressing to the Victorian State Youth Band from 2009-2015. Jared has competed as an Eb Bass player with Darebin City Brass - Northern Brass and Boroondara Brass at numerous Australian and New Zealand National Band Championships, Victorian State Championships and various regional competitions. |