Northern Beaches Big Band
I started my own Big Band in 2018.
The initial reason was that some of my Mona Vale Big Band students were moving on to high schools which didn’t have a Jazz Program.
Add to that other students I know or have taught at Bilgola Plateau in the same boat and it became apparent something needed to be done.
I'm following the model and example set by James Hill with his Brass Baton bands. James has set such an amazing example of how it can be done and his bands are absolutely incredible. He has given me his blessing to blatantly copy his concept and so the Northern Beaches Big Band is born.
Repertoire Link here
Northern Beaches Jazz Combo
Made up of the best players from the first Big Band, with a focus on improvisation.
Mona vale public school
Performance Band
Big Band
Jazz Band
I have been at Mona Vale since 2014 and what a thriving primary school music program it is.
Led by the phenomenal and very hard working Mrs Jacqui Shaw, the Mona Vale Music Program is joy to be a part of.
Mrs Shaw and I rotate around who has which of the 3 - 4 winds bands. I direct the 2 - 3 Jazz groups and Mrs Shaw and Mrs Lamb take the Strings ensembles and Orchestra.
BARRENJOEY high school
Concert Band
Jazz BAnd
Barrenjoey Band has it's own website you can check out here:
https://barrenjoeyband.wordpress.com/
I have been at Barrenjoey since 2015 and it's been quite a ride. In my opinion they sound fantastic and are a fun and rewarding group of students to work with. Our performances at the Northern Beaches Instrumental Festival earned us an invitation to perform at the Gala concert of the festival in 2016 and 2018. The tours to Victoria and Tasmania are huge highlights for me, along with our other tours which include the South Coast and Gold Coast.
Pittwater High School
CONCERT BAND
I am incredibly honoured and excited to have been working at Pittwater High since 2016.
The Pittwater High Music program is overseen by Dr Martin Hardy, who is one of the very top music educators and school band conductors in the country. I am thrilled to get to work with Dr Hardy and I am trying to learn as much from him as I possibly can.
One big highlight for me was getting to conduct the band on tour in China in 2016, which included a performance on the Great Wall and concluded with the great honour of performing at the ANZAC dawn service in Beijing.