It’s the opportunity to perform and give back to the community that draws this musical family to playing with the Palmerston City Concert Band (PCCB). “I love live music and the ability to perform, and the Band gives me the opportunity to give live music back to the community; and it’s fun!” says Carol Atkinson, a former flute, now euphonium, player. Bruce Cartwright, a trumpeter, and Rochelle Cabry, a viola and bassoon player, echoes these sentiments.

If you saw the PCCB perform at the Nightcliff Markets last November you would’ve seen the first bassoonist the band has ever had. Rochelle, 14, joined the group in late 2009, despite less than twelve months of playing the bassoon; her eight years of playing violin and viola have stood her in good stead. Rochelle says, “I like bassoon as I can play it in bands, whereas the viola is a more orchestral instrument, so by playing both instruments I get to play a variety of musical styles”.

Bruce fills a vital role for the PCCB while it’s looking for a French horn player, by playing those parts on his bass trumpet (pictured). While he has been with the PCCB for five years, he has been playing trumpet since he was eight years old. Aside from private lessons while at school and university, where he studied mechanical engineering, he has little further formal training. He says, “for me, music is an escape from the daily grind, it let’s you off the leash”. Bruce is regularly seen around Darwin performing in various groups covering concert band, big band, brass band and orchestral styles.

Carol adores her two daughters (Rochelle is her eldest), but it was a desire for her own space after bringing them into the world that prompted her to pursue her lifelong dream of learning music. She loved the sound of the flute so started there but shifted to euphonium when the PCCB had plenty of flautists but not enough brass players. It also helped that her stepfather had a spare euphonium lying around! While she had some private lessons on flute, she is self-taught on euphonium and enjoys the extra band performance opportunities playing it brings. As the newly elected President of the PCCB (albeit for the second time) her vision is to see the band continuing to build on its strong community base.

The Palmerston City Concert Band welcomes new players with any experience level. It also announces a new partnership with Kormilda College, where it now rehearses every Thursday night between 7pm and 9pm. For further information see the band’s website.