A BIG band from Queensland, Australia is travelling more than 9,000 miles to play a free concert in the town.

Rockhampton Big Band will be sharing a stage with Warrington’s North Cheshire Wind Orchestra at the Pyramid on Friday, September 22.

The group is made up of students, aged between 12 and 17, and staff at the Rockhampton Grammar School who have had to cover their own costs for the trip through three years of fundraising.

It is the band’s first trip to the UK having toured previously in the West Coast of the USA in 2011 and then the East Coast in 2014.

John Evenhuis, conductor and head of music at Rockhampton Grammar School, has planned five concerts in the UK.

Among the dates are school concerts and performances with other bands or orchestras.

The young musicians will also be taking part in a band workshop at Disneyland Paris and a choral workshop at Kent College.

But they described the Warrington concert as the highlight, because it is the band’s first real concert in the UK after the school performances.

The Rockhampton Big Band has a jazz style and teachers and staff contribute to the group.

For example, the school’s headmaster is on alto saxophone and John is on trumpet.

They will be joined by North Cheshire Wind Orchestra, a symphonic wind orchestra with around 40 members directed by Andrew Mallon.

John, 52, said: “The music department at Rockhampton Grammar School strives to offer students learning experiences focused on challenge, authenticity, diversity, professionalism and positive rewards for effort.

“Learning experiences change lives and it is the mission of the school to provide a challenging and stimulating learning environment, which inspires our students.

“International tours allow our students to enhance their musical skills through practice, performance and master classes, while experiencing a wide variety of cultural environments.

“As we are part of the Commonwealth it seemed natural for us to want to explore the UK to give the students a sample taste of what this country has to offer the world.

“The students thrive on performance as it is the culmination of work both together as a team and for each student individually.

“Every performance is different and therefore engaging and interesting for our students.”

The repertoire for the Pyramid performance

Yorkshire Overture by P. Sparke

The Legend of Zorro by J. Horner

I Will Follow Him by Stole/Roma/Plante

Ye Banks and Braes by Burns

Finnegan's Wake by A.J. Potter

Gaelforce by Peter Graham

  • Rockhampton Big Band will be performing a free concert with North Cheshire Wind Orchestra on Friday, September 22. To reserve a seat send an email to concert@wenstravel.com