[singlepic id=441 w=320 h=240 float=left] The township of Yarrabah is coming alive to the sound of music with the reformation of the Yarrabah Brass Band, says Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt.
“A recent milestone for the band was a commitment from renowned musician James Morrison to provide ongoing support in the establishment and implementation of the project as well as mentoring of the musicians,” said Mr Pitt.
“The next milestone will be a partnership with Opera Australia and a linked performance of ‘Yarrabah the Musical’ to be staged Wednesday 29 August featuring Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan, local legend Troy Brady and actor Nick Backstrom.
“Yarrabah the Musical is the culmination of two years hard work by the Yarrabah community and the Opera Australia Partnerships team.
“Written and directed by Rhonda Roberts, the production reflects the spirit past and present of the many families who call Yarrabah home.”
“There will be two performances, the first for the Yarrabah community only, followed by a free performance for the general public starting at 7pm August 29.
“Current brass band members will perform a couple of songs in the production, auditions have been held and a small number of members have begun rehearsing.”
Mr Pitt said very few people were aware of the rich musical history of Yarrabah.
“The first brass band dates back to the early missionaries in the nineteenth century and continued until the early 1970s,” Mr Pitt said.
“The band not only provided entertainment for Yarrabah but it also toured to many areas of Far North Queensland.”
The reformed Yarrabah Brass Band project is a partnership between former Yarrabah Brass Band members, Queensland Health, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs, Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation and the Queensland Music Festival.
“There are many benefits that come from learning to play a musical instrument. It’s something that provides a lifetime of benefits – for me personally it is playing the drums.
“The impacts of playing an instrument are physical, emotional and psychological in nature so there are no limits to how your life can be improved through music.
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