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Introduction

To: brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Introduction
From: Gillian Laughton <gml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 14 Jul 1995 10:24:44 +0930

As it seems to be part of our new culture, here's an introduction:

I started out as flute player, and did a performance certificate on flute
before becoming interested in Brass in my early twenties. Why we didn't look
at a trumpet or cornet when I first started playing rather than the flute I
will never understand, as my grandfather was a SA Bandmaster and my father
was a very good player in his younger days.

I played low cornet for 9 years with a good B grade band in Melbourne -
Moorabbin and for a year before that with Elizabeth City in South Australia
when it was a B grade.

When we moved back from Melbourne to Adelaide I returned to Elizabeth which
was at that time (1990) one of the best 2 or 3 A grade (Championship grade)
Bands in Australia. I was playing the low cornet parts - all that I really
had the technique to cope with.

Unfortunately they started fighting in 1992 and Elizabeth no longer exists
as a functioning Band. They have gone from inception in 1978 to B grade in
1979 to A grade in 1981 to defunct in 1994. Wheel of fortune viscously at work!

When I walked out of Elizabeth I did not want to play Brass again, but
rather revive my flute playing with a concert band. However a few months
later my husband came home from a rehearsal for the little D grade band
(Para Hills) he played for, saying that they were going contesting later
that year at Tanunda. It did not take me long to decide that going to the
contest and not playing would drive me crazy. So I offered to play, and got
given Solo Tenor - and the test piece opened with with a tenor solo. Despite
my years in B and A grade I had never been so nervous. 

I ended up playing Brass at the concert band as well after a year or so, as
they had plenty of flutes and very little brass. So that I can play the same
instrument in both I am now playing Baritone. Both Bands are preparing to
play in the Adelaide Band Festival in August and the brass will be competing
again in D grade at Tanunda. We have done well, but not well enough to get
out of D grade yet. For those interested the Test is Northumbrian suite and
our own choice is Circus Suite. 

The pressure playing for an A grade band is tremendous - I am enjoying
playing far more now than ever, although I will never regret those 2 and bit
years with the A grade - it was a fabulous experience while it lasted.

Regards,  Gillian

     Gillian Laughton      (SS:MAF)
     Librarian, Adelaide Laboratory
     CSIRO. Div. of Manufacturing Technology   
     PO Box 4, Woodville, South Aust., 5011
     E-Mail: gml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Phone: (08) 303-9123  CSIROTEL: 98 39123
     Fax:   (08) 303-9222
			    
	 "Brass is beautiful"

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