Hobart City Band
The Hobart City band is a not for profit organisation originally formed in the 19th century that caters to a broad spectrum of musicians in the greater Hobart area of Tasmania in Australia.
Six bands
The bands membership is currently over 100 musicians of varying ability. The age range of these members is from around 10 years old to over 60. These members are spread over 6 bands within the whole. the bands are the "development band" (which caters to musicians who are new to their instrument) the "Swing Band" which is available for hire for any occasion, a Junior B grade brass band and a Junior A grade concert band both cater to young musicians under the age of 19. The Senior Brass Band and the Senior Concert Band which is now known as the Hobart Wind Symphony.
Brass band hiatus
Due to declining numbers the brass band went into a self imposed hiatus in 1992. The band was kept running by the concert band which was started up a few years earlier. After 11 years it was decided it was time to restart the brass band and a group of brass musicians were asked if they wanted to restart it. AbOUT 14 musicians joined the newly formed brass band and its ranks were augmented from the relative sections of the concert band. The band has been competing regularly in both state and national competitions since 2004.
Brass band success
The brass band first found success at the Australian National Band Championships in 1970 where it came first in the B grade section.
After its reformation in 2003 the band competed in D grade at the Australian National Band Championships and came second. Since it was the highest ranked tasmanian band in the competition this meant that it also gained the title of State D grade champions.
In 2006 the band was raised to C grade level for the State championships in Hobart and won the C grade title. It then asked to be reclassified as a B grade band so that it could compete in the 2007 National Championships at that level. The reclassification was approved and the band went on to become the National B grade champions in 2007 as well as the State B grade champions in both 2007 and 2008.
The band was once again successful at the National Band Championships in 2009 at B grade level and have since been regraded to A grade level.
2008/09 was a notable 12 months for the Brass Band as it managed to win avery competition it entered. This started with the Devonport Eisteddfod in 2008 followed by the State Championships in 2008. The Autumn Festival in the Derwent Valley was won in 2009 followed by the National Titles in 2009. To finish off the twelve month period the band won the Hobart Eisteddfod in 2009.
Concert band success
The Senior Concert Band first had National Success at the 2004 National Band Championships held in Launceston. They achieved the title of B grade champions.
They followed this up in both 2005 and 2006 as the State Champions.
After the State Championships in 2006 they were regraded to A grade and became the State champions in 2007. In 2008 it was decided to rename the Band the Hobart Wind Symphony. They won the State A grade championships in 2008 and floowed this up in 2009 as the National A grade Champions.
Junior concert band
The Junior Concert band was formed in 2004 by a teacher at a local Hobart High school who wanted his school band to compete at the National band Championships. He needed to have his band registered with the Tasmanian Bands League (TBL) to do this so asked the Hobart band if they would sponsor them. The band competed at C grade level and won the Junior title that year. Pleased with the success of this group of young musicians they decided to keep the young band going and they have since won all the state titles at b grade. in 2009 they were regraded to Junior A grade and have members from many different schools in Hobart.
Recorded material
The Wind Symphony and Senior Brass Band have combined to make a CD that is currently available by contacting the Secretary. The CD is called Extreme Makeover. This was named after the 6th track on the CD from the work by Johan de Meij. They thought the name not only told people what was on the CD but it also described the bands transformation over the prior 2 years.
The first 3 tracks are by the Brass Band Conducted by Simon Cawthorn Track 1 - Bandsmans Challenge - Bertrand Moren Track 2 - In Perfect Peace - Kenneth Downie Track 3 - Dances and Arias - Edward Gregson
The Second Three Tracks are by the Wind Symphony conducted by Simon Reade Track 4 - Be Thou My Vision - Gillingham Track 5 - Lochinvar - James Curnow track 6 - Extreme Makeover - Johan De Meij