Canberra Brass was conceived one afternoon in 1984 after work several (four) of the workers from the local business in Hall Village gathered for drinks at the local pub, as was their habit, and the discussion turned to music, and it was quickly realised that they all played brass instruments.

 

In 1986 the band was named Hall Village Brass band and entered its first NSW State Championships in 1987. In 1989 the band was promoted to ‘C’ Grade and surprisingly won the NSW State Championships ‘C’ Grade that year. The band became incorporated in 1993 and began its push to ‘B’ Grade in 1994. Peter Robertson was the bands Musical Director during these early years. This year also marked the end of the fourth regional brass band in the surrounding area. Colin Fischer took up the Musical Director position in 1996 and the band was promoted to ‘B’ Grade in 1997, also winning the NSW State Band Championships in ‘B’ Grade that year.

 

After several name changes to try and reflect the bands relationship with Canberra was now the Hall Village Brass Band ACT. In 1999 the band traveled to New Zealand to compete at their championships before being promoted to ‘A’ Grade locally – which only lasted 12 months. In 2001 Orchestre de Cuivres D’Amiens visits Canberra on an Australian tour coordinated by Mike Lee who would then go on to organise a number of return visits for members of the band to France in later years.

 

In 2002 Tom Burge Musical Director of the band and led the band playing Paganini Variations at the National Band Championships that year. However the number of members of the band had grown to a point that regular members were being pushed aside for professional players from Royal Military College Duntroon. Colin Fischer once again took up the role of Musical Director.

 

In 2004 the band received its first grant from actsACT fo the purchase of new instruments, and started an annual concert series part of the band’s 20 th Anniversary.

 

It was not until 2009 that the band created a development band – initially names Secunda Brass but later to be known as Victoria Street Brass (Victoria Street being the main street in Hall Village). This year also saw the purchase of polo shirts as the bands summer uniform and the purchase of old St Edmunds College and St Clares Band red jackets to supplement the stock of band jackets.

 

Noting that the band was now 25 years old the band managed to take out first place at the NSW Band Championships in ‘B’ Grade. Colin Fischer retires from the band after leading both bands only to be called back in to assist on percussion at the NSW State Championships. Viv Martin takes on Hall Village Brass Band with Gavin Finlay leads Victoria Street Brass.

 

It was 2011 when the senior band changed its name to Canberra Brass and the Canberra Brass Quintet is formed. Members of the band also formed about half of the touring band Eastern Australia Brass that toured France. The second tour of France and Belgium by Eastern Australia Brass occurred in 2014, and the third of Singapore, Germany, Belgium and France in 2018.

 

Adam Powers took over as Musical Director of Victoria Street Brass and also formed Canberra Youth Brass – that would only last a couple of years. Kevin Knapp takes over leading Canberra Brass in 2017 in time for the third tour of Europe by Eastern Australia Brass.

 

Canberra Brass continues to rehearse and compete via video through the Covid pandemic in 2020 – albeit socially distanced. Veronica Boulton takes on the role of Musical Director of Canberra Brass and Victoria Street Brass restarts under Adam Powers after the pandemic lock-downs.

 

In 2023 a beginner band is created and is named Newbery Brass after one of the founding members of the band – Brent Newbery – led by Gypsy Cook. This group has then created a new Canberra Youth Brass group of youth players of a higher playing ability than the beginner band.