August 12, 2012
The Brisbane-based BoB Quintet banded together with Wondai musicians at the weekend to put on a bold and brassy (and loud) performance at the Wondai RSL Club.
The Sunday afternoon concert, which packed the hall, was the culmination of a weekend of workshops held in conjunction with the Wondai and District Band, supported by the South Burnett Regional Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF).
BoB – “Best of Brass” – was founded in 2008 with the aim of bringing the best brass music, both classical and contemporary, to Australian audiences.
Its members have performed all over the world and the group is currently collaborating with the Queensland Conservatorium and Musica Viva on a series of public concerts and school programs.
The Wondai workshops, which featured educator Kerry Thomas on horn and tenor horn, were held at Terry Jacobsen’s property.
They attracted both young and old members of the Wondai Band as well as a handful of members from the group’s sister band, based in Nambour.
Jane Iszlaub, from the Wondai District Band, said a close relationship between the Wondai and Nambour bands had been fostered over the past five years or so.
“We have dual memberships,” she said.
“Members of the Nambour band are also members of the Wondai band, and members of Wondai are members of Nambour.
“This means that both groups can use each other’s players in competition.”
Nambour players often come over to Wondai to camp on Terry’s property, practise in his music shed and socialise with the Wondai players.
However this weekend’s Band Camp was extra special because of the presence of the five BoB members, who were also billeted with Terry.
Jane said she was in awe of the professionalism of the BoB Quintet.
“This is the sort of thing that doesn’t happen very often in Wondai,” she said. “It’s amazing to get five players of this calibre together at the one time.
“We couldn’t have done it without the help of the RADF.”
