If you play brass or percussion (or would like to learn!) please visit our band room ​on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, or contact us via email, phone or Facebook.

Everyone is welcome at Marist Brass!

Adult Academy

Tuesdays 6-6:45pm

Marist Brass Band

Wednesdays 7:30-9:30pm

Marist Brass Band is our 'Senior ​Band', and competes at a 'C' ​Grade level at competitions.

A good understanding of music ​is required, and familiarity with ​your instrument is a must!

The 'Senior Band' is open to ​adults of all ages, and those ​aged 13-18 upon invitation.

Our Academy groups are designed to get you performing right from the start!

Rehearsing weekly, each group aims to perform in public at least 3-4 times a ​year. Performance opportunities include playing at the Bendigo Eisteddfod, the ​Marist Brass ‘Carols in the Cathedral’, parades, and other community events.

Academy students are also encouraged to perform individually

throughout the year. Opportunities can include busking at the

Eaglehawk Dahlia & Arts Festival, performing a solo at a competition or

public performance, sitting an Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) ​exam and much more! At times, Academy members are also given ​opportunities to play with the 'Senior Band' and sit alongside experienced ​musicians to further their musical education.

The cost is just $50 per school term,

which covers instrument hire, music, and tuition.

Claire grew up in the regional town of Taradale, and began taking piano lessons when she was just 7 years old. She took up the French Horn at 11, and over the next few years played with many school and community groups. Claire was also a member of the Australian Youth Choir for several years, a highlight being performing at Hamer Hall with the Vienna Boys Choir in 2003.

In 2006, Claire moved to Melbourne where she studied economics, mathematics and financial planning. Claire joined the Bendigo & District Concert Band and the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra after relocating to Bendigo in 2011. In 2013, she joined Marist Brass, and helped to establish the Marist Academy of Brass.

From 2015 through to 2020, Claire was Principal French Horn with the Victoria Youth Symphony Orchestra where she had the honour of playing Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, which contains one of the greatest horn solos in orchestral horn repertoire.

Claire is currently involved in a variety of ensembles in Bendigo, including the Bendigo Symphony Orchestra and the Bendigo & District Concert Band, and has been in the orchestra for numerous musicals staged by Bendigo's Nexus Youth Theatre Company, the Bendigo Theatre Company, and Tribe Youth Theatre.

During the day, Claire works for a financial planning practice in Bendigo, and by night she teaches music privately to individual students. Claire has been secretary of Marist Brass since 2015, and plays Solo Tenor Horn in the Marist Brass Band.

Matthew is a highly experienced musician. He holds a Bachelor of Music and a Graduate Diploma in Performance from the ​Sydney Conservatorium. Matthew has performed with many of Australia’s professional orchestras, and has won eleven ​Australian solo championships and won the Victorian Champion of Champion twice. He competed at a number of ​international solo competitions.

Matthew is the Music Representative at Marist College Bendigo and is enjoying the challenges of building a school music ​program from the ground up. Matthew was previously the music coordinator at Bendigo Senior Secondary College, and ​many of his former students enjoy fulfilling careers in the music industry.

Matthew is also a highly skilled ensemble director. For ten years Matthew conducted the Bendigo Colleges’ Symphonic ​Band, and he has previously conducted the Marist Brass Band Bendigo. Under his direction the band placed second twice ​at the Australian National Band Championships. He has also directed stage bands, brass and woodwind ensembles with ​great success.

Matthew is also a passionate composer. His work “Threnody and Legend for Tuba and Piano” was selected as a test piece ​at the 2018 Australian National Band Championships.

Donate

We accept donations no matter how large ​or small, and tax-deductible donations can ​be arranged. All donations go straight to ​the band, and are used to purchase new ​music, repair and purchase instruments ​and much more.

Did you know that the instruments in our ​band can cost up to $25,000 each?

Help us purchase new instruments for our ​youth program, and donate today!

In-kind support

From raffle prizes, performance venues hto ​handy-man jobs – we’re always looking for ​in-kind support!

In bigger news, our band room is in ​desperate need of a renovation, and our ​band trailer needs painting and outfitting ​so we can visit the wider community.

If you can help us out, we’d love to return ​the favour by promoting your business!

Volunteers

As a small community group with ​limited resources, we are always on the ​lookout for volunteers to assist with ​things such as running raffles or selling ​tickets at our concerts.

We always need extra hands to help out ​with logistics on ‘gig days’, so even if ​you can’t make an ongoing ​commitment, we’d still love your ​support!

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