FOR music with a bit of fun attached, the Canberra public could hardly do better than drop in on the Australian National Eisteddfod’s Bands & Orchestras, to be held from May 24-31.

The event will feature 75 concerts of jazz, rock and brass bands, as well as orchestras made up of over 2000 individuals, from Canberra, Dubbo and Young, aged 8-80 years.

They’ll be playing music made famous by Lady Gaga, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Sting and written by composers ranging from Gustav Holst and  J.S. Bach  to Dizzy Gillespie and Aretha Franklin.

Lindsay Frost, a product of the Canberra music scene, will return to adjudicate this year’s event. Frost began his  piano studies in Canberra at the age of five, playing flute, saxophone and clarinet in the Eisteddfod as part of school bands, Canberra City Band and Canberra Youth Music.

He has has been director of bands at Epping Boys High School in Sydney since 2001.

For the full program visit http://www.nationaleisteddfod.org.au/newsletters/BandOMay2012Newsletter.pdf

Tickets for all events available at the door. Tickets for Llewellyn Hall events are also available for pre-purchase from Ticketek on 132849.

[box] Highlights of the program will include:

Thursday, May 24, 6pm-10.30pm – Jazz Bands, featuring 14 bands at various levels

Friday, May 25, 7pm-9.30pm – Open Concert Bands, featuring Canberra City Bands, Ginninderra Wind Orchestra, South Canberra Youth Wind Orchestra and Bungendore and District Concert Band

Saturday, May 26, 10am-3.30pm – Youth-aged Concert Bands and Open Brass Bands;

Sunday, May 27, 2pm-5.30pm –ACT High School Bands [/box]