History
A Concise History
1997
- Unley Concert Band was founded in May 1997 by Bill Lawson - Inaugural President with Bill Kannussaar - Inaugural Music Director
- 21/2/97: "Proposal for the Formation of an Unley Concert Band" was submitted to Council. A grant of $5,000 enabled the foundation of the band.
- First rehearsal held at Arthur Street, Unley 28/5/97, 24 players attended.
- Inaugural concert held at Unley Civic Centre 14/9/97 for a council function.
- Unley Concert Band was founded to be a marching band and was the only marching concert band in South Australia in 1997.
- The band was formed to provide the opportunity for school leavers with AMEB Grade 4 standard and above to continue playing their instrument.
- Most of the band members were recruited from Concordia College.
- Community engagements in 1997 included a Seniors Week Civic Reception, the Louise Place Fete, the Julia Farr Fete, and the Glenelg Pageant
- A Band initiative, Carols in the Rotunda, conducted for the first time
- Many of the 53 band members in 1997 were senior secondary and tertiary students
- In 1997, the Band played 15 well-received concerts, 11 in the Unley Council area.
- Unley Concert Band was community oriented and would perform at council functions, school fetes, and local events for any good cause.
1998
- Unley Australia Day ceremony
- The Band paraded in the Anzac Day City March for the first time. Later in 1998, the Band participated in the Credit Union Christmas Pageant
- During 1998, the Band participated in many community functions, including the Unley Way to Go parade, concert at the Julia Farr centre and Concordia College, Christmas Pageants, and the Carols in the Rotunda
- Bill Lawson retired from the band (due to health reasons) 12/2000
- Bill Kannussaar became President/Musical Director 12/2000
1999
- The Band provided music for the Unley Australia Day ceremony
- Jacobs Creek Tour Down Under - well appreciated performance by the competitors as they commenced the Unley leg of the race
- Anzac Day march
- The Band participated in a large number of community concerts, including the South Australian Policeman of the Year Dinner at Ayres House, the Unley Way to Go march, a Volunteers Week concert, and various community fetes and pageants
2000
- The Band played the usual round of community performances, similar to those of previous years.
- The Band became and Incorporated Association
- Bill Kannussaar resigned the positions of President and Musical Director and moved to Port Lincoln 12/2000
2001
- A variety of guest conductors assisted the band
- Dr Kevin Cameron, Director of Music at Pembroke School, was appointed Musical Director in June 2001
- David Corkindale was elected President at Annual General Meeting August 2001
- The Band continued to perform for community events, including fetes, pageants, and community concerts
2002
- The Band produced the first of many of its own formal concerts for the community at the Goodwood Community Centre
- The Band commenced active contesting, winning the 2002 SA Band Association Concert Band Championship
2003
- The Band wins the Open C Grade contest at the SABA Winter Championships (Willunga), and the Concert Band Championship at the Barossa Band Festival
- The Band hosts a school band from Western Australia in December and produces combined performances
2004
- The Band undertakes its first tour to the Australian National Band Championships at Launceston, Tasmania. The Band wins the Open C Grade Concert Championship by a record 95 points, and is placed 5th in Open B Grade. A number of soloists and ensembles are highly placed in the solo and party championships
- A combined concert with the Hahndorf Town Band is held in the recently refurbished Unley Town Hall, given to a large audience
- The Band is promoted to State A Grade, and wins the Championship against all other major community concert bands in SA
- The Band wins the Concert Band section of the Barossa Band Festival for the second successive occasion
2005
- Unley Concert Band performs a substantial concert to a full audience at the Unley Town Hall before Easter
- The Band plays magnificently at Elder Hall for the Open B Grade championship at the Australian National Band Championships, achieving 3rd place. A number of Unley players win or are placed in the solo championships, and Unley wins the Open Quartet Championship
- In November, Unley Concert Band wins the SABA A Grade Concert Band Championship for the second consecutive year
- Bruce Raymond appears as guest conductor for Unley Concert Band's first Cabaret Night at the Goodwood Community Centre
- The Band participates for the first time in various Christmas Pageants, including Glenelg, Norwood, Blackwood, amongst others.
2006
- The Band participates in the Unley Way to Go celebrations at Unley Oval
- The second Cabaret night - Sounds of the Big Bands is held at the Unley Town Hall in May
- Unley participates at the Hahndorf Town Band 80th Anniversary Contest and places second behind K&N
- The Band performs in the Credit Union Christmas Pageant
- Unley participates in the SABA State Championships at Tanunda. The Band wins the Concert Band Street March trophy, but loses the A Grade Championship to Police Rangers on a countback.
2007
- The Band participates in the Unley Way to Go celebrations at Unley Oval
- Unley participates at the 2007 Australian National Band Championships at Ivanhoe, Victoria, placing second in the B Grade Championship. Unley is the only concert band to participate in the Parade of Bands.
- David Bremner, Principal Trombonist of the NZ Symphony Orchestra, is featured in a special concert with the Unley concert Band at Walford.
- The Unley Concert Band celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a dinner attended by present and past players and Anniversary Contest. The contest, featuring Henley and Grange, Onkaparinga, Redbacks, and Unley, is won by Unley.
- The Band performs a concert at the SA Museum as part of the Sundays are Fundays series
- The Band performs in the Credit Union Christmas Pageant and a number of suburban events
- Unley participates in the SABA State Championships at Scott Theatre, University of Adelaide, placing second in the A Grade Championship.
2008
- The Band participates in the Unley Way to Go celebrations at Unley Oval
- Soloists, a Quartet, and a Quintet represent Unley at the 2008 Australian National Band Championships.
- The Band performs in the Credit Union Christmas Pageant
- Unley wins the Size Music Shield for Solo and Party and Volunteer aggregate points.
- Unley participates in the SABA State Championships at Elder Hall, placing second in the A Grade Championship.
- The Band wins the Unley Spring Festival Contest (the Pollard Shield) from Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay and Tea Tree Gully Concert Bands.
- Unley wins the A Grade section at the Barossa Band Festival.
- As usual, the Band participates in a number of Christmas pageants.
2009
- The band performed with Jonathan Welch and the Tutti Ensemble at the Australia Day Council Luncheon
- UCB performs a hugely successful pre-tour concert to the local community at the Unley Town Hall. They also played at a pre-Nationals concert at Scotch College
- Unley placed second at the Australian National Band Championships in Sydney. Soloists and a quartet also represented the band at the competitions
- The band completes a successful Tour of Belgium and France, representing South Australia at the Dawn Service in Villers-Bretonneux
- Soloists and groups performed at the SABA Solo and Party events, many winning or placing in their sections. Nicole Molloy wins the Open Concert Champion of Champions for Unley.
- Unley formed a partnership with the St Andrew's School Band and performed a combined concert
- Unley wins the B Grade competition at the SABA State Band Championships
- UCB wins the Unley Spring Contest (the 'Pollard Shield') for the third year running
- The Band is awarded the 'Freedom to March' in the City of Unley in a ceremony conducted by Mayor Richard Thorne.
- Unley wins the Barossa Band Festival B Grade Concert competition, with a perfect score for the hymn. The band also performs well in the street march.
- The Band participates in six local Christmas pageants.
- UCB performs in an end of year christmas concert with the Tutti Ensemble.