| Benjamin's Big Band |
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BBB
is one of the leading youth community bands in Australia, with a long and unparalleled
record of success. The band was formed in 1992 by Craig Benjamin, (jazz
musician, composer, and band director), to provide an outlet for talented high school
musicians on the north shore. Its humble beginning was a one-hour a week rehearsal at a
local primary school with borrowed rhythm section instruments and no uniform.
BBB
quickly established a reputation both for its high musical standards, and for its big,
bold and swinging concert band style. In 1993 a decision was made to take the band on tour
to the USA. By this time, the band had been split into two: the Concert Band and
the Stage Band. The band organisation was
also formalised at this time with the registration of the Garigal Community Performing
Arts Society Inc. After the tour, Craig began
to shift the musical emphasis from a concert band repertoire to modern jazz.
In
1998,
The
move also necessitated fundraising to purchase the bands own equipment - a sound
system for outdoor performances and the band's vocalist, a drum kit, congas and bongos,
keyboards and amplifiers and an extensive selection of stage band and jazz orchestra
charts.
Playing
more jazz, led naturally to the band's next foray - a four-week tour to
Europe to five European jazz festivals. Because the band
now contained such instruments as bass clarinets and French horns, Benjamin's Big Band was
renamed Benjamin's Big Band Jazz Orchestra. In preparation for the tour, BBB also set up
this website.
After
the tour, the band decided to play only jazz, and so BBB reformed permanently as
Benjamin's Jazz Orchestra and Stage Band. In order to foster this interest in jazz music,
the committee has provided workshops with leading jazz musicians.
BBB
completed
its
most recent tour
in July 2003 visiting 7 Canadian cities plus New York
and
Boston. The focus of the tour
was on performances at several of the great jazz festivals of the North American summer. In early 2003, BBB was saddened to hear that the two founding members, Mr Craig Benjamin and his supportive wife, Pamela, had an offer to teach in the USA. With this news, the BBB Committee searched for a replacement Band Director. After an interview and selection process, two new Band Directors were found. These are Mr Brendan Collins (to administer the Jazz Orchestra) and Mr Angus Bullough (who has been with BBB since its early days) to manage the Stage Band. Between these two Directors, BBB through 2003 continued to grow an impressive record of community performances, high musical standard and a haven for local musical talent. During 2004, Mr Brendan Collins was forced to depart from his enjoyable time with BBB due to work pressures. Following the 2003 overseas tour, the band lost some members and so it was decided by the GCPAS Committee to transfer the Jazz Orchestra training and management to Gerald Steinmann, the leader of Big Toy band and well known music educator. Contact Information Send electronic mail to webmaster@benjaminsbigband.com with
questions or comments about this web site. |
