Grafton TAFE bands in state finals
Monday 20th August 2007
Four bands from TAFE NSW - North Coat Institute’s Grafton Campus Music course are competing with four other bands from around the State in the finals of the TAFE NSW Student Association Band Competition on Friday 24 August, 2007.
Music Head Teacher Bruce Vickery says “As only eight bands are in the finals it would appear we are dominating the event – we are certainly in with a good chance of winning.”
The competition is part of the National Campus Band Competition which according to the Student Association website is “the largest live band competition in the southern hemisphere”, with more than 1000 bands from over 80 institutions competing.
The Finals, held this year at Dee Why RSL Club in the northern beaches area of Sydney, have been going for nearly fifteen years and the top two bands from this event will be eligible to compete against university bands at the NSW university finals held in University of Wollongong on 21 September, 2007.
The four Grafton-based bands share several members, showing the versatility and the dedication of several music students):
“Arial Failure” (Stephen Green, Matt Metcher, Dylan Juhasz, Peter Neilson)
“Stave” (Dylan Juhasz, Mikel Johnson, Peter Neilson, Stephen Green)
“The Pretty Sweet” (Kate Whyman, Will Edgar, Ally Ray, Mikel Johnson)
“Mikel Johnson & the Bearded Calm” (Mikel Johnson, Orson Gawne, Nick Bird)
Mr Vickery says that the students in the bands have shown excellent musical aptitude and have shown great commitment throughout the year.
“I wish them luck – they all deserve to win,” says Mr Vickery.
The 10 students involved are currently enrolled either Certificate IV or Advanced Diploma in Music Performance. Students enrolled in any of the Music courses on offer in 2007 are able to use brand-new state-of-the-art music production and recording facilities Anyone interested in enrolling should call 131 601, log onto the website www.nci.tafensw.edu.au or call Head Teacher Bruce Vickery on 6641 1700.
