Treat yourself to a wonderful relaxing afternoon with some beautiful saxophone music in the exquisite acoustics of the Basilica. The program will feature the famous virtuosic unaccompanied Caprice en Forme de Valse by Bonneau alongside electro-acoustic accompanied works for soprano saxophone by Andy Scott and Australian composer Stuart Greenbaum. Admission is free and there will…

The Geelong Symphony Orchestra are commencing their 2026 season with an evening of French music from Chopin, Bizet, Debussy and Ravel. I will be joining the woodwinds for Bolero alongside Mark Franklin on tenor saxophone. The piece was originally commissioned for a ballet and is an impressive experiment in tone colours in the orchestra. Interestingly,…

I recently enjoyed a day in Melbourne with Selmer Paris representative, Angelique Planchat, to test out some equipment. Over two hours I compared mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds and instruments and came away with an updated perspective of what is currently on offer with Selmer. I first started comparing soprano saxophone mouthpieces and very much liked the…

It was a real treat attending the Midwest clinic in Chicago for the first time. I was one of over 18,000 attendees who were keen to learn and connect with the very best in music education. The clinic has a history of being a reading session where new music was performed and could be purchased…

Over the weekend I was fortunate enough to get a lift from Lewisville saxophone expert Mark Smith to go see the Lotus Saxophone Quartet perform in San Antonio. They were awarded the Fischoff Gold Medal in the senior winds division and completing a community outreach and educational masterclass tour. The soprano player, GianCarlo Devanii Lay,…

The next part of my immersion was visiting where the band journey starts for students in Grade 6 to 8. These middle schools have strong ties to the high schools with directors often visiting and instrumental staff being shared. There are a lot of similarities in fundamental concepts being taught and important mentoring and supporting…

It was wonderful to start my visit to Dallas with a free concert by the Plano Community Band in the Robinson Fine Arts Center under the direction of Dr Thomas Keck, featuring Italian trombonist Peter Steiner as a guest artist. The program has a well-considered mix of the old and the new with a very…

Across Australia, the beginner instrumental instruction method has been based on the American Band system since the 1960s yet only a few local music educators have spent time in the original environment we attempt to emulate. I’m excited to undertake a two-week immersion in Texas with opportunities to observe classes and have discussions with some…

Delight in the development of the saxophone quartet from the earliest composition in America to the lively streets of Paris and mysterious nightclubs of Buenos Aires. Niels Bijl – soprano saxophoneMichael Lichnovsky – alto saxophoneShannon Ebeling – tenor saxophoneSara Beale – baritone saxophone Florio – Quartette: Allegro de ConcertFranck – Prélude, Fugue et Variations, op.…

I will be joining Orchestra Victoria performing a bold new triple bill of iconic composers with visionary choreographers. Dancer, choreographer and storyteller Jerome Robbins captured the world’s attention with his ground-breaking choreography on the hit Broadway musicals West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof. Known for his evocative style, Robbins spoke his truth through his ballets. With Glass…

After a successful premiere in Bendigo in 2024, The Geelong College is excited to be hosting ABODA Victoria’s 2025 Harmony and Growth professional development day. Students will rehearse in a concert band with ABODA president, Amanda Morrison, while teaching staff receive some valuable presentations by Dr Rob McWilliams. Topics include strategies to build confidence in…

As part of the 2025 Victorian Instrumental Music Teachers Conference there were two international superstars of the music education field brought to Australia. Brian Balmages is one of the most popular modern composers for concert bands but also an incredible educator and conductor. His first talk was titled ‘If you PLAY something, SAY something’ and…

Two of our great wind band conductors, Dr Jo Heaton and Dr Jemima Bunn, have restarted the Melbourne Wind Ensemble for a special concert. This group features an amazing line-up of accomplished musicians and I’m honoured to be performing on lead alto saxophone with some doubling on soprano. The program has a wonderful blend of…

The Rotary Club of Greater Geelong is having their annual fundraiser for youth mental health services with an evening of live jazz. I will be performing some standards with a sextet including local musicians Kym Dillon on piano, Zac Barter on bass and John Seal on Vibraphone. Friday May 23rd, 6:45pm to 10pmTickets available at…

In early January young musicians from Geelong and the surrounding area will come together for a great week of music camp. In its 43rd year, this day camp provides a valuable experience for musicians with outstanding conductors, instrumental specialist tutors, fun electives and an opportunity to make some great friends. This year I will be…

The final concert for the 2024 season by the Geelong Concert Band will feature the Workshop Band, Community Band and Senior Concert Band performing a set before combining together for a grand finale. The workshop band will be performing works and the end of their first year of learning, including the wonderful relaxing composition by…

Dutch ‘avant pop’ composer JacobTV (Jacob ter Veldhuis, 1951)  is considered an ‘outlaw’ in new music, whose work ‘makes many a hip-hop artist look sedate’ (Wall Street Journal).  Jacob has been a frontrunner in combining video, multimedia and music for 30 years. With his use of soundbites from documentaries, news items and popular tv-shows he…

As part of the 15th Windfire Music Festival in Geelong I will be performing alongside a talented array of musicians, presenting music composed from the 12th Century to the present day. Alongside Tom Healey and Frank De Rosso I will be improvising on soprano saxophone to O Magne Pater by Hildegard von Bingen and then…

Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery, treachery… and All That Jazz… The Geelong College Senior School Production this year has plenty of cracking musical numbers. I’ve been playing the Reed 2 book in the pit switching between Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet and Piccolo. Amazingly, there are soprano saxophones in all three reed parts which makes…

The Geelong Concert Band Senior Band will be having a jazz themed concert in September. The first half will feature concert band works influenced by Jazz including Ticheli’s iconic Blue Shades, a taste of French Gypsy Jazz with Perkins’ Societe Blue and a melting pot of American blues and rock styles with Karrick’s See Rock…

This year the Australian National Band and Orchestra Conductor’s Conference was held at Carey Baptist Grammar in Kew. The theme was ‘Play Your Part’ with keynote presenters Dr Paula Crider and Dr Travis Cross. Many of the presentations looked at ways of expressing ‘beyond the notes’ on the page, engaging your ensemble with questioning and…

Running a marathon just got easier thanks to some awesome saxophone music! Combining my love of running with playing the saxophone, I’ll be pumping out some motivating tunes for the 10th Anniversary of the Surf Coast Trail Marathon. You can catch me on Saturday 15th June at Urquhart’s from 11:45am.

The Geelong Concert Band’s Term 2 concert will be featuring music from the different corners of the world. The Senior Band will be giving a first performance of Peter Graham’s Windows of the World which will feature a number of soloists in the ensemble. Saturday 15th June, 7:30pmGibson Centre, Christian College Senior Campus, Waurn Ponds…

The Workshop, Community and Senior Concert Bands will be opening their concert season with an impressive line-up of works. Back in the old stomping grounds of Robertson Hall, this afternoon concert will have something for everyone, including a world premiere by Ballarat-based composer Matt Pankhurst. Brian Sadler – UnveilingMatt Pankhurst – Grace * world premierePercy…

Enjoy an afternoon of ‘all things saxophone’ at the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Victoria’s ‘Super Sax Sunday’ I’ll be joining some of my favourite musicians to perform some beautiful saxophone quartet repertoire before digging into concepts such as warming up, tone production, playing with expression and practice goals. Everyone will have the opportunity to…

I’m looking forward to spending a week tutoring saxophones at this wonderful local music camp. An enriching musical experience and great opportunity to make some friends who also love to play their instrument. There are two levels of string orchestras, concert bands, a choir and a stage band. Plus, heaps of fun electives throughout the…

The Senior Concert Band has an impressive lineup of toe-tapping charts for their Term 3 concert. The first half will be of music inspired by dance rhythms from Cuba to Stonehenge to Bourbon St. In the second half the band will be joined by three of Geelong’s dance companies who have choreographic impressive routines to…

The three concert bands will be presenting an evening of action and thrills with performances of works from the screen (both big and small). The Senior Band will be performing a staple of the repertoire, Cartoon by Paul Hart, which is a homage to the musical fingerprint of the cartoon soundtrack. Saturday 20th May, 7:30pmThe…

After a successful debut in 2022, this Rotary fundraiser will be returning this year for an evening of great jazz, food and wine. The evening will feature students from Belmont High School, Kardinia International College and North Geelong Secondary College. I will be also playing some jazz with a great combo of local musicians: Kym…

The Senior Band will be starting the year in style with a performance of some iconic works: Norman Dello Joio’s Satiric Dances, Frank Ticheli’s Amazing Grace and Alfred Reed’s El Camino Real. The ensemble has been working really well on realising the expressive nature of these wonderful compositions. Come along, bring a friend and enjoy…

I’m delighted to be joining baritone connoisseurs; Sara Beale, Jay Byrnes and Niels Bijl, for an afternoon of music from the Dark Ages to the present day. If you have not had the opportunity to hear this incredible combination of instruments, do yourself a favour and save the date. Saturday 10th December3pmYarragon Studio515 Yarragon South…

Join the concert band for the their final performance of the year in the beautiful surroundings of the Geelong Botanic Gardens. The Senior Band will be performing an exciting selection of works showcasing their versatility in sound and style. Randall D. Standridge – Imaginarium Barry Milner – On Wings of Angels J. Scott McKenzie –…

The Geelong Concert Band will be spreading the Christmas cheer at Carols by the Bay. Enjoy a picnic and festive tunes as the sun sets over the water with some familiar songs from Christmas movies. Saturday 3rd December5:30pm Concert Band, show starts at 7pm.Eastern Beach Reserve, Geelong Free event

After two years of anticipation the Baritone Institute is finally arriving in Geelong for all saxophonists who love playing a low A! Featuring bari sax experts Niels Bijl and Sara Beale there will be rehearsals, masterclasses and a brief concert at the end – featuring just baritone saxophones! Whether you have been playing for years…

The Rotary Club of Geelong in conjunction with Kardinia International College, North Geelong Secondary College and St Joseph’s College, proudly present an evening of great jazz, food and wine. Music by:8 person jazz ensemble from Kardinia International College, Jazz quartet from St Joseph’s College, plus Kym Dillon – piano, Shannon Ebeling – saxophone, Brianna Ekberg…

The epic J.R.R. Tolkien story of The Lord of the Rings is told through the work of Johan de Meij in this performance by the Geelong Concert Band. A staple of the wind band repertoire, this will be the first time this group has performed the entire five movements. The two part program will feature…

I’m pleased to be part of a fundraising concert to help the Salvation Army’s work in the Geelong region. The Geelong Concert Band will be performing an exciting program of works, concluding with a combined performance with the Melbourne Staff Band. Works include:– Randall Standridge Imaginarium– Don Freund Jug Blues and Fat Pickin’– Edward Fairlie…

Saturday May 28th, 7:30pm Gibson Centre Christian College Waurn Ponds Come along to hear the workshop, community and senior ensembles of the Geelong Concert Band perform at their Term 2 Concert. The Senior Band will be performing the following works, combining with the Community Band for the final massed item: Michael Sweeney – Lament and…

Robert Sheldon – ChoreographyEric Whitacre – SleepLeonard Bernstein – Slava!

It was lovely to catch-up with some familiar musicians and meet some new ones at Fine Music’s repertoire reading day at PLC. 4 hours of sightreading with a 50+ ensemble of great musicians, conductors and educators really reinforced why we love playing music. It was nice to see solid representation from Geelong as well as…

Geelong’s premier concert band will explore the unique acoustics of the Basilica with a program that highlights the lyrical and versatile sounds of this unique ensemble in the space. It will include the world premiere of local composer Kym Dillon’s latest inspiring work, Veni, Creator Spiritus, which explores the importance and necessity of human creative…

There is so much anticipation when a student opens an instrument case for the first time. As teachers we open up their minds to a whole new world of musical and technical discovery while learning a woodwind instrument. This session will explore teaching approaches that have been successful for those in their first year of…

Have you ever felt like you are the odd one out in the ensemble? The Baritone Institute is the brainchild of Dutch saxophone legend Niels Bijl and has been a roaring success in the Netherlands. I am excited about hosting their second every Australian event in Geelong for everyone who loves playing the ‘Grandfather’ of…

I have loved my investment of a digital radio and having so many musical styles at my fingertips. But it has always been an oddity to me that there isn’t more concert band music broadcast. So many students can go through their education playing in an ensemble format that they have never heard outside the…

The Geelong Concert Band will be returning for a live performance featuring music from The Dark Knight, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Enjoy a relaxing evening of great music, welcoming atmosphere and supporting your local community organisation.

Recently I was driving listening to ABC Classic FM and was particularly struck by a very lyrical composition for oboe. Little did I know, it was a home grown Australian composition by Graeme Koehne, performed by Australian oboist Diana Doherty! In popular culture today you can miss some truly magical artistry from our classical instrumentalists.…

One thing a lot of musicians missed last year was the regular opportunity to rehearse and perform great music in an ensemble. I’m excited about my new position as conductor of the Senior Concert Band and have spent the recent term break scouring the library for some great repertoire. There are some exciting times ahead…

Are you ready to take the plunge in learning the saxophone? Or perhaps you are looking to refine your skills in preparation for VCE or University? Make 2021 a memorable year for the right reasons and contact me to tee up a lesson and explore your potential! I currently have vacancies on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons for…

Ingrid Martin has developed some fantastic resources for ensemble conductors at her website: Conducting Artistry. Not only are there insightful articles about repertoire, rehearsal planning, score study and conducing technique – she has also created a Youtube channel with some great videos explaining these in action as well as short courses you can undertake. I…

An afternoon of exhilarating concert band performances awaits as Geelong’s finest musicians join forces with the awe-inspiring Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne. A concert experience not to be missed! Featuring: Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne, Christian College Geelong & Geelong Grammar School Combined Concert Band, and Geelong Concert Band (Senior Band) Sunday, 23 February, 2:00…

The Geelong Summer Music Camp celebrated its 40th year with an amazing finale concert at Costa Hall. Two hundred and sixty students along with 40 staff took to the stage and showcased their week’s work alongside Australian music legend, James Morrison. It was a holiday highlight for many and a musical start to the year.…

The Geelong Concert Band’s final concert of the season will be a free outdoor event on the waterfront. Bring a blanket and your picnic dinner to be entertained by our talented local musicians playing some crowd favorites. Friday 29th November7pm at the Steampacket Gardens, Geelong WaterfrontFree admission