Blue Mountains Concert Band

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History of BMCB

Early in 1983 the Blue Mountains Gazette reported the formation of a community concert band in the Lower Blue Mountains. "The idea has arisen partly because of the success of the Glenbrook School Band when it had the honour of playing at the Sydney Opera House in the concert organised by the Arts Education Centre of the Department of Education." The bandmaster at Glenbrook Public School, Mr Ron Mallett, felt "there should be a means by which such talented young people could further their musical training after finishing primary school - by rehearsing and performing with senior musicians."

Lower Blue Mountains Community Band, Christmas 1985

There were many who shared Ron's view. Late in 1982 teachers and parents at the primary school decided to form a steering committee with Ron 'leading the charge'. The new band, known as the Lower Blue Mountains Community Band, met for the first time in March 1983 under Ron's direction. The band's first home was the library of Glenbrook Public School. The idea of a new band attracted past and present school band members, their parents, and instrumentalists from other schools. Within a few weeks there were about thirty members who came from Lapstone, Glenbrook, Blaxland, Springwood and Lawson. A start-up contribution of $200 from Blue Mountains City Council helped the band buy music stands.

The continued growth of the band forced the committee to find a new rehearsal venue. By the end of 1983 the band was rehearsing at the Lapstone Scout and Guide Hall. In August 1994 the band moved to a third rehearsal venue, the hall of St Andrew's Uniting Church at Glenbrook. St Andrews has continued to be the home of the band to the present day.

Lower Blue Mountains Community Band, in concert 1985

Just four months after it began, the band joined with the Warrimoo Chorale to present its first public performance at the 1983 Glenbrook Creative Arts and Crafts Fair. The band played ten songs on the program and provided some solo, duet and quartet items. The band's first performance included: Chariots of Fire, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, The Entertainer, Amazing Grace, Grandfather's Clock and Funiculi Funicula. The Glenbrook Creative Arts and Crafts Fair has become the Glenbrook Village Fair. The band continues to play at this fair annually.

Lower Blue Mountains Community Band, Robertson Park Orange 1985

International Youth Year arrived in 1985 and the members of the Lower Blue Mountains Community Band were very busy. They undertook their first band excursion to Orange in central western New South Wales where they performed as the guest band at the Orange Festival of the Arts. They joined Blue Mountains City Band, Lithgow City Band, Orange City Industrial Band and the Orange Police Boys Junior Band to play at the Orange Civic Centre and at the band rotunda in Robertson Park. Additionally, in 1985, they played at the Springwood hospital fete, at the Glenbrook Centenary Fair, at two public concerts in July and August in conjunction with the Blue Mountains Creative Arts Centre as well as playing monthly at the Springwood Ivy (craft) market.

Lower Blue Mountains Community Band perform in Glenbrook Park 1986

In 1990 the band formalised its management structure by becoming an incorporated body. By this time, the band had gained recognition as a significant community organisation in the Lower Blue Mountains. The Springwood Ivy Market, Blaxland/Glenbrook RSL Anzac services, Blaxland Gala Days, Glenbrook Spring Festivals, various 'Carols by Candlelight', school and church fetes, nursing home performances and Australia Day commitments are a sample of the broad contribution the band has given to the local community. In 1990 the band, conducted by Yvonne Smith, performed at the Canberra Floriade Festival. In 2001 the band updated its name to Lower Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc.

Steps of Broken Hill Entertainment Centre after winning performance, 2002

2002 was a significant year for the band. At Easter the band travelled to Broken Hill in far western New South Wales to perform at the three day 'Year of the Outback Band Festival and Military Tattoo'.  Competing against bands from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, the band won the Concert Band section of the band's contest and was invited to perform at the Gala Concert in the Broken Hill Entertainment Centre.

By 2002 the band had lost its direct relationship with local primary schools and now, ten years after the retirement of Ron Mallett, the band's membership consisted mostly of adult players. The idea of developing a new junior division for the band was first aired while the group was at Broken Hill. It was felt the future of the band, and its charter to provide service to its community, lay in the development of a younger membership. A meeting was held in May 2002 to discuss the proposal to form a junior division. The meeting endorsed the formation proposal and adopted a set of management guidelines for the new band which was originally known as The Lower Blue Mountains Concert Band Juniors.

Junior Band, World Environment Day festival, Springwood 2003

The junior band was launched at a Band Enrichment Day on Sunday 18 August under the musical direction of Matthew Gately. The group commenced regular rehearsals the following Tuesday with just twelve members. By the end of the year membership had doubled to twenty-five. Just four months after its formation some junior members were ready to join the adult band at the Christmas Concert with the Blue Mountains Choral Society at the Springwood Civic Centre. In its first year the junior division performed at: the Springwood Foundation Day Festival, three Anzac commemoration ceremonies in Springwood and Glenbrook, the Springwood World Environment Day Festival, the Penrith Eisteddfod, the McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge, the New South Wales State Band Championships and at Sydney's Darling Harbour entertainment precinct. In May 2006 the junior division changed its name to Mountains Youth Band. The following year, under the baton of new Musical Director, Garry Clark,  Mountains Youth Band was awarded First Place in three important contests, namely, the Open Division of the Bathurst Eisteddfod, the Open Division of the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod, and the NSW State Concert Band Championships Junior C Division. In the same year, the band also performed its first “Holiday Celebration Concert” at the Q Theatre, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith. In 2009, Mountains Youth Band achieved national recognition when it was awarded Champion Band at the Australian National Concert Band Championships Junior C Division. These successes established Mountains Youth Band as the premier youth concert band in Sydney’s western region.

Mountains Youth Band and Musical Director Garry Clark in rehearsal for the 2008 Holiday Celebration Concert

The year 2002 saw the adult band provide a unique afternoon and evening of entertainment to Blue Mountains audiences when it presented "A tribute to the music of Brassed Off" in June. Under the musical direction of Richard Bournes, an augmented band performed two concerts of music from the hit British film, followed by screenings of the movie at the Glenbrook Cinema.

Tribute to "Brassed Off", Glenbrook Cinema, 2002. Conductor Richard Bournes.

In May 2005, the Lower Blue Mountains Concert Band's adult division amalgamated with the Mountains Wind Ensemble. This ensemble had been formed during 1996 by a group of mid-mountain adults who wanted to develop their instrumental and performance skills. In fact, two separate groups were formed at this time. The Adult Recreational Orchestra (ARCO) which was a string based group and the Mountains Wind Ensemble (MWE) which was a wind based concert band.

Mountains Wind Ensemble at St Thomas Aquinas Fete

The Mountains Wind Ensemble maintained a membership of 15 to 20 adults over the 9 years it existed. Their conductor during this exciting and creative time was Garry Clark who was well known for his dedicated leadership of school and community band programs in Sydney's Hills District. During this time the Mountains Wind Ensemble performed at many fetes and concerts in the local area. The two groups met twice a year for a full-day workshop at St Columba's School Hall in Springwood. The strength in numbers resulting from the amalgamation of the bands has ensured that adult concert band musicians in the Blue Mountains have a strong local band to rehearse, perform and socialise with.

Richard Bournes leads LBMCB, Anzac Commemoration, Buckland Village, 2002

In August 1990 the band's founder, Ron Mallett, wrote his final annual report to the members. In it he called for a continued commitment to the band through regular attendance at rehearsals and performances. He articulated the qualities which contribute to a strong, musically cohesive, well directed ensemble and he prepared those who were to succeed him. Today, the Blue Mountains Concert Band, Mountains Youth Band and Blue Mountains Jazz Ensemble, all operating under the auspices of Blue Mountains Concert Band Inc, continue to serve their community in the tradition established by their founder.