OUR STORY
In the late 1880’s a group of town players were formed into the Wide Bay Regimental Band in conjunction with the military defence establishment. The band was conducted by Alf Hall. This band attended their first contest in 1902 at Charters Towers. In 1904 the Wide Bay Regimental Band won the Championship concert which was held in Maryborough. This concert was adjudicated by Mr Perry Cock from Melbourne. In 1908 another contest was held in Maryborough and the Wide Bay Regimental Band won the A grade. There were many changes around this time and in 1913 the Wide Bay Regimental Band was decommissioned and reformed as the Maryborough City Band.
In 1920 the Band won the B grade Championships and in
1921 they won the A grade Championships at Bundaberg.
Bill Ryder, formally principal cornet player with the Royal
Besses O ’Th’ Barn Band was conductor of the City Band at this time. Mr Alex
Connors regarded the City Band during this period as the best band in
Australia.
In 1923 Jack Brennan was appointed as conductor and from
1927 onwards the band competed regularly with a professional conductor to coach
and train the band for a few weeks before a concert. Such names of distinction
like Partington, Compton, Jock Henry & JJ Kelly were the professionals that
were hired.
The name of the Boys Band was changed in 1946 to the Excelsior and Boys Band so that junior players could continue to play. Alex Connors was appointed as conductor of this band in 1947 and remained the director to 1981. Championships were not so easy to win for the City Band and after the retirement of Jack Brennan and from the early 1950’s such names as Jim Gummon & Ralph Skerritt conducted the Band in B Grade and C Grade. Many players had moved on with work opportunities and the Band was taken over by Fred Wedd who taught many juniors and the band became known as the City Junior Band.
In 1968 Mr D Perric became the bandmaster but only a short while. The band was still playing as a Junior Band and conducted by Ernie Heitmann. Alex Connors had been conducting the Excelsior & Boys Band since 1947 and in 1971/72 he was approached to coach and train the City Junior Band for competition.
Later in 1972 the City Band amalgamated with the Excelsior Band and remained under the guidance of Alex Connors. In 1973 at Rockhampton the Excelsior City Band won the C Grade Championships, and the following year in Bundaberg won the B Grade championships. In 1975 the band won again in Nambour. The band was upgraded to A Grade from 1976 to 1980 but returned to B Grade in 1981. Mr Connors retired from conducting the band in 1981 and handed the position to deputy conductor Mel Neilsen. The Band competed in B Grade in 1982 and won the Australian B Grade Championships. T
he Band was very active and attended many area contests and gained a good reputation by winning a variety of competitions through the 80’s and was upgraded to A Grade for a short period. With the loss of some experienced and talented players, the Band was regraded and through the mid 90’s it experienced the loss of more players due to work and personal reasons. Many young players were taught and the Band was graded as D grade for competition.
Winning competitions was not so easy for some while but in 2010 the band won all five sections in competition by a big margin at the Gold Coast. At the present time the band is graded C Grade and plays regularly in the Rotunda giving concerts in conjunction with MELSA. Other performances include ANZAC Day in conjunction with the Maryborough RSL and the Mary Poppins Festival for the Fraser Coast Tourism & Events.
The name of the Boys Band was changed in 1946 to the Excelsior and Boys Band so that junior players could continue to play. Alex Connors was appointed as conductor of this band in 1947 and remained the director to 1981. Championships were not so easy to win for the City Band and after the retirement of Jack Brennan and from the early 1950’s such names as Jim Gummon & Ralph Skerritt conducted the Band in B Grade and C Grade. Many players had moved on with work opportunities and the Band was taken over by Fred Wedd who taught many juniors and the band became known as the City Junior Band.
In 1968 Mr D Perric became the bandmaster but only a short while. The band was still playing as a Junior Band and conducted by Ernie Heitmann. Alex Connors had been conducting the Excelsior & Boys Band since 1947 and in 1971/72 he was approached to coach and train the City Junior Band for competition.
Later in 1972 the City Band amalgamated with the Excelsior Band and remained under the guidance of Alex Connors. In 1973 at Rockhampton the Excelsior City Band won the C Grade Championships, and the following year in Bundaberg won the B Grade championships. In 1975 the band won again in Nambour. The band was upgraded to A Grade from 1976 to 1980 but returned to B Grade in 1981. Mr Connors retired from conducting the band in 1981 and handed the position to deputy conductor Mel Neilsen. The Band competed in B Grade in 1982 and won the Australian B Grade Championships. T
he Band was very active and attended many area contests and gained a good reputation by winning a variety of competitions through the 80’s and was upgraded to A Grade for a short period. With the loss of some experienced and talented players, the Band was regraded and through the mid 90’s it experienced the loss of more players due to work and personal reasons. Many young players were taught and the Band was graded as D grade for competition.
Winning competitions was not so easy for some while but in 2010 the band won all five sections in competition by a big margin at the Gold Coast. At the present time the band is graded C Grade and plays regularly in the Rotunda giving concerts in conjunction with MELSA. Other performances include ANZAC Day in conjunction with the Maryborough RSL and the Mary Poppins Festival for the Fraser Coast Tourism & Events.