CANBERRA City Band is one of only six or seven bands in the nation invited annually to attend the ‘A’ Grade Australian National Band Championships, to be held this year in Sydney over Easter.

On Tuesday night at the band’s facility in Watson, selected guests were treated to a preview of what they’ll be performing this year.

As the sole Canberra reps, president Dom Galloway points out, “we represent the people and Government of the ACT to our very best ability…whilst we haven’t yet brought home ‘The Prime Minister’s Trophy’, that time is imminent.”

They’re certainly giving it their best shot. This year the Championships are an official “Centenary of ANZAC” event and with that in mind, conductor and musical director Geoff Grey has chosen music with a remembrance theme.

The rousing “Army of the Nile” will be their ‘Stage March’ entry, with Australian composer Graeme Lloyd’s specially commissioned work “25 April 1915” as the ‘Test Piece’, J.S. Bach’s “Blithe Bells” as the ‘Sacred Item’ in an arrangement by one of Grey’s favourites, composer Percy Grainger and an emotional musical representation of ‘D’ Day, “The Lonely Beach” by American composer James Barnes, as the ‘Own Choice’.

“Music is not a competition,” Grey told those present, “but these competitions are a good way of gauging where you are.” He said he and band members were working hard to bring themselves up to the level where they had been under the directorship of former band director, Colin Fischer, who was unable to be present.

 Grey pointed out that he had managed to include some Grainger in most of his concerts and had even done Grainger-specific concerts. “People will ask ‘why did you choose that work?’ – I say it shows our vulnerability, I think it exposes us.”

Grey spoke of his long association with Lloyd, who composed “25 April 1915,” a work of great variety that depicts the Gallipoli landing and what followed and which concludes with a touching nod to “Waltzing Matilda”. Grey drew attention to the outstanding soloist in the piece, bugle player Graeme Reynolds.

Without doubt the most dramatic work of the evening was James Barnes’ “Lonely Beach,” in which hell on earth is depicted through the mind of one soldier. But in it there was a note of hope, Grey said, for the work showed that “no matter how loud the mayhem may be, a new day will dawn.” This work began and finished with an eerie sound of the sea produced unerringly by the trumpet section.

Grey has undoubtedly chosen a most demanding program for Canberra City Band to perform over Easter. Music lovers at home will be wishing them well.

The ‘A’ Grade Australian National Band Championships will be held at the Seymour Centre, Sydney, April 3-6. Those who can’t make it can watch the Live Streaming at brassbanned.com details at http://nswbands.com/2015nationals/