City of Perth Brass Band members Jo Bryant (Mt Hawthorn), Elizabeth-Ann Williamson (Oakford), Michael Wolter (Caversham) and Ray Treen (Mirrabooka).
Camera IconCity of Perth Brass Band members Jo Bryant (Mt Hawthorn), Elizabeth-Ann Williamson (Oakford), Michael Wolter (Caversham) and Ray Treen (Mirrabooka). Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie

City of Perth Brass Band gets in festive spirit with Brass on the Grass at Victoria Gardens

Tanya MacNaughtonEastern Reporter

A PATTERN of notability has emerged in trombonist Michael Wolter’s list of musical achievements.

Not only did he learn how to play the instrument and perform in the Morawa DHS Brass Band, the only public school brass band in WA, he now plays in the City of Perth Brass Band, which is one of the oldest brass bands in WA dating back to 1898, when it formed as the Perth Federal Band.

“I’ve been in the band around two years and prior to that I played with other bands as well,” Wolter said.

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“The City of Perth Brass Band had done regional trips up to Morawa to do stuff with the school band.

“The guy who taught me played with the band when he moved back to Perth so that’s why I probably ended up there. It was the band that had a relaxed feel to it and everyone was friendly.”

The City of Perth Brass Band will follow last year’s successful Christmas concert in Kalamunda with three Brass on the Grass Christmas concerts at Victoria Gardens in East Perth on December 6, 13 and 20.

“Each concert will primarily be the same,” Wolter said.

“We’ll be playing a lot of the traditional carols with a couple of newer Christmas songs and a crowd favourite appearance from Santa Claus, who is always a winner with the kids.

“It will be on the grass so people can buy food or bring a picnic. And being a brass band, the sound travels really well, so people might even hear it down at the pub at The Royal.”

Wolter said the event would start at the family-friendly time of 6.30pm, finishing about 8.30pm.

“It will be a chance for everyone to sing Christmas carols and be that lead in to Christmas,” he said.

“And it’s a free event. So many things cost money these days but this is something people can bring their kids down to and it won’t go really late. We want parents to bring kids along because these things are what get children interested in playing music as well.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Brass on the Grass

Where: Victoria Gardens, East Perth

When: 6.30pm, December 6, 13 and 20