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Sapphire Concert Bands inc. PO Box 479 Inverell NSW Australia Home About Photographs Bookings Membership Links Music Directors 2007 |
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| Mr Lee Evans: Head Musical Director and Librarian. |
Mrs Narelle Kennedy: Deputy Music Director. |
Mr Geoff Croft: Training Band Director. |
Mrs Norma Tom: Secretarry. |
Mr Lee Evans
Lee grew up in Sydney and became interested in
music at the age of 5 years. He played with local community bands
and later with the Salvation Army Band as a
cornet player.
He joined the NSW Police Service in 1965 and worked in general
duties and various plain clothes positions besides the
NSW Police Band. He played Cornet till 1969,
when he progressed to Euphonium which became his instrument of
choice till his retirement. His playing was often commented on by
other members of the Police Band for the beautiful tone he could
get from his beloved B & H Sovereign Eupho. During his years
in the Police Service he also was conductor of the
Penrith Police Citizens Boys Club Band and
tutored at Fairfield Boys Club.
In more recent times he has helped out with the Gosford
Concert Band. Since 1995 the Sapphire Concert
Bands of Inverell have been Lee's hobby in retirement.
Positions held have included chief conductor of the Training Band
for our new recruits and our Sinfonia Group which concentrated on
presenting a classical repertoire. Lee is currently head Musical
Director.
History of the Band
Local musician, Lee Evans, and teacher Peter Schuhmacher, together with a group of interested people, formed the Sapphire Concert Band in 1995 with the aim of providing an opportunity for Inverell for local people to become involved in a musical enterprise that would be enjoyable and foster an interest in music in the community.
There are two bands, the Training Band and the Concert Band.
The Training Band is made up of players competent enough to read music and play at a limited level, with the aim of progressing to the main band.
The Sapphire Concert Band consists of players from local schools and the wider community, ranging in age from 12 years to a lively 70 + years. It has a varied repertoire from marches through jazz, dixie and popular music to light classics.
One of the band’s former members, Robbie Hobbs, played with the Olympic Band at the opening ceremony for Sydney 2000, no small achievement for a member of a small country band.
Early in 2002 the band formed a management committee and later became incorporated. The founding committee comprised Wayne Jones (President), Jim Noad (Vice-President), Robyn Austin (Secretary), Kay Kramer (Treasurer) and Bob McLachlan, Peter Eddy, Chris Ryan, Greg Holder and Geoff Croft on the general committee. Wayne, Jim and Geoff have remained on the committee since its inception.
In mid-2002 the band commenced monthly performances at the Sapphire City Markets on the 3rd Sunday of every month. These performance are continuing, and allow the band a wider exposure to the community and an opportunity to present a variety of music.
In February, 2003, founding conductor Peter Schuhmacher requested and was granted leave of duties as musical director. Lee Evans has served as Musical Director since then, overseeing a period of growing interest and support from the community. This is reflected in the increasing number of requests for our services at diverse functions such as the McLean Retirement Village annual fete, charity concerts, Rotary dinners, garden parties and numerous other fund-raisers.
A constitution was adopted in May, 2003, with Greg Holder instrumental in its writing.
In 2004, the band conducted the inaugural “Battle of the Bands”, a competition based on entertainment and audience appeal, for the North West of the state. Bands from Gunnedah, Moree, Tamworth and the Inverell Sapphire Concert Band took part, with Inverell gaining first place from Moree and Tamworth. In 2005, the second running of this competition saw the inclusion of bands from Armidale and Narrabri. Inverell again took first place, from Moree and Tamworth.
Highlights to date of our 10th anniversary year have been an appearance on the “Today Show” on early morning TV; the opening of the new Band Rotunda in Campbell Park ( built by the Rotary Clubs of Inverell as a centenary project and now used for our market performances) and the Inverell on Display expo. Future projects for this year include the Sapphire Concert Band Spectacular (as part of the Sapphire City Festival ) in October and competing at the Battle of the Bands Finals in Sydney in November.
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