OUR PURPOSE
Community Music for All
We provide opportunities for musicians to join together to perform varied, interesting and fun music for both personal and public enjoyment whilst fostering the development of musicianship in a positive and supportive environment.
Musical Excellence
Social Fun
Music Performance
Community
Ready to Join Us?
We normally encourage prospective members to come along and play in several rehearsals before deciding whether they want to join a band. If the player wishes to join all that is required is to fill in a simple membership application. We do not have auditions but it is generally desirable for new players to be at about the level of AMEB Grade 4+ to easily cope with the level of music being played by the Concert Band. Members of the Intermediate Band need to play at about AMEB Grade 2. The Musical Director can have the final say in accepting applications but this is only likely to be required in an extreme case of mismatch between band needs and player skills or instrument selection.
100
ACTIVE MEMBERS
4
BANDS
New members welcome!
Prospective members are welcome to turn up to have a blow (or hit). Let us know to expect you. 🙂
Our History
Leeming Area Community Bands (LACB) began in 1996 with two bands. One was a band for youths who were learning music at school and the other was a band for adults who were either interested in learning to play music for the first time or interested in playing a new musical instrument. The adult band initially had about 16 members and began with the most basic band music. The band culture is considered as important as the music and the members engaged in social events, fund raising and various other group activities.
The bands were the creation of Phil Arnold, a local primary school music teacher. He managed to attract a few experienced musicians to join the band as informal tutors and to provide encouragement to the new players. The youth band was disbanded at the end of 2001 as increasing opportunities for band work occurred within the school curriculum. However, the adult band continued to evolve and gain both members and expertise. With increased musicality and membership numbers; new ensembles have formed over the years. The LACB organisation now consists of the Leeming Concert Band, the Leeming Big Band, the Leeming Intermediate Band, the Leeming Training Band and various ensembles.
The Training Band, which was started in 2017 was started to help new players develop skills in reading and playing written music in a group environment. The Intermediate Band allowed members of the Training Band, who feel ready, to tackle more challenging music, as well as providing for any new members with some background and ability in playing their instruments. At the end of 2021 it was decided to combine the Training and Intermediate Bands as the players in the Training Band would be able to develop within the Intermediate Band which then had a sufficient breadth and depth of skills to support and nurture newer players.
The LACB now has over 100 active members ranging in ages from 18 to 90 and enters Concert Bands and ensembles in the State Band Competitions.
