2022: Year in Review
In 2022, Westgate Concert Band reawakened! No one needs to be reminded of the severe impact that pesky respiratory virus had on our activities, and despite valiant efforts to keep our ensemble alive via zoom, nothing quite compares to creating music together once again. This year Westgate worked hard to regain their musical skills and their ‘chops’, were thrilled to welcome a collection of new members, and finally performed under our new musical director.
Thank goodness for Sunscreen and Ooddies…….. the President’s look back at 2022
Once again we reach the end of another fantastic year for Westgate Concert Band, filled with its own unique challenges and achievements. As we reflect on these, we recognise that there are so many people and organisations that help Westgate do what it loves most.
Without Braybrook College we wouldn’t have a home for all our percussion gear or the wonderful Roy Hamilton Music Centre to rehearse in, or the pergolas in the outdoor areas that we utilised at the beginning of this year. While we enjoyed the sun, and playing in person together again, the noise of the traffic and local wildlife were a challenge! Moving indoors certainly had its troubles too, with Ooddies and winter layers becoming unofficial rehearsal uniform.
Bunnings Sunshine has been fantastic to us. They offered us somewhere to play this year, and we were welcomed not just by Rose the Activities organiser, but all the staff. We expect to pull out the BBQ tongs again in 2023, so we hope you’ll all come along for a sausage.
We also thank our partners, families, colleagues, bosses, and friends, who support us in our passion for music and Westgate. They help in front of house, buy our raffle tickets, pack the trailer and most importantly come to our performances. They may not understand why we completely nerd out at the mention of John Williams or hearing Johan De Meij, or many other composers, but they support us in so many ways.
Lastly, congratulations and thank you to our players, for sticking with it or joining us this year, and getting back to playing music again. The last couple of years just weren’t the same without seeing all your faces every Saturday morning.
Wishing you all the best for the festive season and we look forward to seeing you in 2023!
Madam President
A Return To In-Person Rehearsals
Westgate Concert Band made sure to guarantee the safety of its members in 2022 with strict COVID-safe protocols to ensure our group could meet in person once again. Our rehearsals began outside in the summer allowing for distance and airflow, and while the change in weather drove us back inside the Roy Hamilton Music Centre, we kept the air filters pumping and the doors open despite the cold air (much to the chagrin of some members!). To rebuild our skills, we first focused on our revamped Rumpty Dick folders, returning to a stage where the pieces felt like second nature, before embarking on more symphonic challenges for the year.
Community Appearances
Westgate representatives appeared surrounded by an array of colourful instruments at the Yarraville Festival back in March to attract new members, and once again took part in Altona’s Carols by Candlelight. In particular this year, Westgate were delighted to appear at Bunnings Sunshine on multiple occasions, breaking out our new Rumpty numbers and revelling in the opportunity to again play live. We extend our sincerest thanks to Bunnings Sunshine for their support of community music and look forward to continuing our collaboration.
Concert Performances
Westgate Concert Band warmed up for our re-entry into the concert circuit this year with a performance combining Rumpty and symphonic items for Heathglen Retirement Village in June. Good-old Radetsky March and Chit Chat Polka were played along with more recent works including the music from Doctor Who. In August, Westgate returned to Queenscliff with our ‘Literature by Lighthouse’ concert presenting a selection of music inspired by famous literary or art works including Pablo! and Beowulf. We then ended our year with our free ‘Concerto Concert’ in November - a long awaited concert supported by the Maribyrnong City Council Community Grant Program that was originally due to be held in 2020. The concert featured standout performances from both Westgate and guest soloists, with audience members impressed by the standard of music and the variety in the program. Congratulations to all our soloist and featured artists, and thank you to Maribyrnong City Council for their support.
Looking Ahead
Westgate Concert Band is excitedly looking forward to 2023 where we hope to increase both our community playouts as well as the number of events on our own concert performance schedule. With a little luck, we shall work on some new charts, pull out some old favourites (the entirety of Symphony No. 1: The Lord of the Rings anyone?) and welcome back the vocal talents of our valued Friends of the Band.
Until then, Westgate Concert Band wishes everyone a wonderful Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy New Year!
