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Published: August 21st 2007
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Musicians
Caitlyn Worland Pioneer State High School 's bands have just come back from a very successful week's tour of Brisbane.
The symphonic band, stage band and HOD of arts Renee Covey as well as instrumental teacher Paul Johnstone and myself and the 29 kids were going to have a busy week.
Monday morning at 5-30am, loading instruments onto a bus, saying goodbyes and finding a comfy seat for the 14 hours bus ride from Mackay to Brisbane were the events of the day.
Arriving in Brisbane at 8 mile plain caravan park around 8-00pm in time for tea, unpack and lights out for a big day ahead.
Tuesday we had our first go at unloading the bus in an awkward spot, carrying heaps of heavy band gear big distances and then trying to set it up in record time to perform.
Mt Gravatt high school had the opportunity to hear both bands, and the kids setting up the vibraphone had at least five goes at figuring out how to put it together.
A quick shop at Garden city mall for a half and hour and for the teachers COFFEE
Next stop Redlands College for a workshop
Musicians
Ben who plays Tuba and Trombone with Paul Davis a Con lecturer and HOD of music at Redlands, listening to their band, our bands, and a combined band performance. Redlands provided pizza for us that night and wonderful Redlands strawberries with chocolate dipping sauce.
Wednesday was a public holiday in Brisbane as it is show week. The show is The Ekka or The Exhibition which is a huge event for town and country folks. First stop was a stage band workshop with John Hoffman at the Con in South bank and then onto the Ekka. We were to perform from 12-00pm to 1-00pm. Arriving in the grounds there was no bus parking to unload the gear, so we double parked held up everything and anything, grabbed instruments and music and shifted it all to the stage area. First up symphonic band and then the rain started. We moved gear and hoped for the best but the leaky roof and angled rain splashed on most of the amps and drums.
Herded the non stage band kids into the car display area over the road and watched the stage band play and more rain falling.
Miraculously at the end of the set the rain cleared to
Musicians
Karlin on Bari sax we could repeat the performance of trying to park the bus, grab the gear and load it it safely.
Then the kids had until 5-00-pm to see the show. most managed to buy multi show bags, go on many rides, eat crappy food and the see the usual show delights.
Managed to find them all and get them back on the bus and back to the caravan park.
Thursday was a tour of Q Pac, the Con and performance in the Queen St mall in the centre of Brisbane. The kids played so well, after so much performing and practising all week, they really nailed it, huge audiences, again the big hassle of loading and unloading and missing music and the usual last minute dramas. (i need to go to the toilet Mr J)
One hours shopping was the reward, amazing how much can be spent in such a short time.
Friday was a day off at Dreamworld near the Gold Caost, so 10-00am to 4-15pm the kids and Mr J rode the rides, rode the rides again and rode some more.
The tigers were magnificent and the paddle boat was just sedate enough for me
Musicians
Morgan on flute to enjoy.
So Friday night on the bus and overnight back to Mackay arriving at 5-30am.
Great trip, great kids, great school.
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