A Band is its People
Westgate Concert Band’s history can be summarised by momentous events like its transition from Youth to Concert band, by the concert series it ran such as Broadway and Beyond, and by the trips the Band embarked on to Queensland and beyond, but at its soul, Westgate is defined by its people.
Our Musical Directors
Without doubt, Westgate Concert Band owes much of its success to its extraordinary Musical Directors. Not just to our founding fathers who have steered our ship for the majority of our time, but to every person who has taken, and currently stands on, the podium as Musical Director, Assistant Musical Director, Guest Conductor or even fill-in-for-the-day Conductor. Standing before this motley crew and trying to get them to follow you is no easy task. It requires more patience, preparation, resilience, and passion than we as players or audience members can ever appreciate. All these people are to be thanked and applauded, for without them there simply would be no functioning Westgate Concert Band.
The Committee of Management
A “Parent’s Committee” initially managed Westgate Youth Band. This dedicated group worked tirelessly to ensure their young musicians had both the resources and opportunities needed for them to pursue their passion for and advance their talents in music. Without such early investment, Westgate Youth Band would surely not have flourished as it did, and we owe our thanks to these early supporters.
Young band members were not discounted from partaking in the running of their group, however, with meetings held between the Musical Director and Band members to discuss the appointment of section leaders, rehearsal and performance tasks, social club activities and uniform (1984). As we matured, we moved from having a ‘player’ representative’ on the committee, to a committee composed of both playing members and parents, although the parents still held the office bearing positions as late as 1992. Gradually playing members took a greater role in managing the band, taking up officer bearing positions and in 2019 we finally had our first playing member as President.
“Support from the parents and families has always been encouraging. This was particularly so at the outset of the band when parents formed the original Band Committees. Therefore Roy and I were able to concentrate of the music, hone our own conducting skills, and be prepared to know all the answers! Subsequently band members formed the greater percentage of the committee as it is today.”
Westgate Concert Band thanks all individuals who have given their time and effort to serve on our Committee of Management and thereby keep our organisation running.
The Friends of the Band
The term ‘Friend of the Band’ was coined by Roy when we expanded our performance style to include not the only vocal talents from our guest singers, but also the additional skills of people as stage managers, voice over/MCs, audio visual preparers and operators, Front of House and more, to carry out the numerous tasks that needed to happen while band members were engaged in playing. We are delighted to today acknowledge these contributions at our Presentation Night since the efforts of these ‘Friends of the Band’ always enhance our performances and allow the band to continue to do what they love.
Our Members
While our dedicated musicians make us a concert band, it is our members that make us Westgate. Whether they are with the band for a year or a lifetime, the members of Westgate share a common goal to play music at a high standard in a positive environment of trust and friendship.
On our 20th anniversary, Roy identified a key element that allowed Westgate to survive and prosper, and this remains true another twenty years on. That key was Balance.
“…balance between: woodwind, brass and percussion; rehearsing and performing; symphonic wind music and playout (Rumpty Dick) music; music making and socialising; rigorously improving musical standards and enjoying playing music with friends; receiving musical direction and participating in decision making; older and younger players; the contribution of players and non-players; short term members and long term members. Westgate has been a truly worthwhile experience for many people over the last 20 years. May it continue to be so into the future.”
To all of our members, we thank you for your dedication and commitment, both musically and non-musically, and for making Westgate, Westgate. To all our past members, we hope this Archive series has reminded you of your time with Westgate favourably and has inspired you to return to community music - we love welcoming back ‘born again Westgaters’! And to those who know woodwind, brass or percussion instrumentalists looking for a new musical home, Westgate’s door is always open.