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Melbourne welcomes Royal Welsh |
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The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh, the last surviving all brass band left within British Army Military Music, is coming to Melbourne to play two free concerts for the people of Melbourne. The band, which performs wearing traditional crimson tunics and bearskin caps, will be made up of a contingent of 50 musicians. The band is lead by its Director of Music Major Denis Burton - MMus FLCM ARCM psm.
The band is famous for its great rousing sound and the quality of its musicianship. The Royal Welsh has achieved a very special place in the hearts of rugby spectators across the world for its epic performances at Welsh Rugby International matches at the famous Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Melbourne concert dates are as follows:
Friday 23 November 1.15pm City Square - Swanston St Music for the Festive Season and Great Hits from the Big Screen
Monday 26 November The Red Stair at Queensbridge Square 12.30pm - The World of Popular music
The Band has toured extensively through Belgium, Germany, Canada, France, and will pay its first visit to Australia in November. The band has played for the Royal Family and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales on many occasions both in the Principality of Wales and elsewhere in the British Isles. A major highlight in 2005 for the Band was to play in front of Her Majesty, The Queen, at the Royal Variety Performance.
The band, which was formed in 1971, is lead by its Director of Music Major Denis Burton. Major Burton enlisted into the army as a trombonist moving on to become principal in the Band of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He completed the British Army's Bandmaster course passing out as top student and going on to win several prizes including the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal.
Major Burton has held several senior appointments in the area of military music. He was Director of Music with Band of the Royal Lancers and the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and was then appointed Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music. Prior to taking up his position with the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh Major Burton was Director of Music of the Grenadier Guards.
The repertoire for Melbourne will include the themes from Gladiator and The Mission, Hymn to the Fallen, Horse Brass, Rocky, the French Military March and many other favourites. The band will also present a workshop for children at ArtPlay on Friday 23 November and perform a marching display at Federation Square at 5.00pm on Monday 26 November. (The workshop at ArtPlay is not open to the public.) www.royalwelshband.com and www.thatsmelbourne.com.au for more information. |