Castlemaine’s Thompson Foundry Band, now in its 137th year, is getting into the swing of Christmas.
Bandmaster Dan Bendrups told the band’s recent annual meeting that “it matters for a town like Castlemaine to have a band it can call its own”.
He said the band had played at range of community events and festivals as well as some weddings and funerals.
Players span the age range from primary school students to veterans in their 80s.
A special pleasure has been young players coming through the Salvation Army’s ‘Just Brass’ tuition program and becoming part of the band.
The Foundry Band welcomes anyone who can play, at any level of proficiency, or would would like to learn a brass instrument.
Dan said that, as conductor, he really enjoyed working with “beginners and rebeginners”.
The band welcomes visitors and newcomers coming for a “listen or a blow” at its rehearsals at 7.30pm on Thursdays at the band hall on the corner of Barker and Parker Streets.
During the meeting, awards were made to Pip Avent (tuba), Ian Hall (horn), Sandra Coventry (cornet) and Reece Handreck (trombone ) in recognition of their contribution to the band over the past year. Raf Pankhurst (euphonium) was awarded a certificate of encouragement.
Band chairperson and cornet player, Susan Lintott, also presented a card signed by band members to Matthew Pankhurst for acting as bandmaster while Dan Bendrups was absent.
