Concert Band – 80 years of history
The Concert Band, otherwise known simply as the Canberra City Band, is a high grade wind ensemble of approximately 50 players of all ages. It began in 1925 so has been a part of Canberra for over 80 years. The band welcomes new or returning players and retires to the ‘pub’ (Dickson Tradies) after rehearsal. On Australia Day 2006, we were a part of the Australia Day Breakfast at Commonwealth Park. You can hear snippets of two charts we performed on the day (both arranged by Keith Helgesen): Beatles a la Daley Wilsonand Golden Wedding . Photos of the day can be seen here. Conductor: Craig Johnson Rehearsal: Tuesdays 7:30 – 10pm Venue: 49 Phillip Av Watson, see it on Google maps) For more information, email information @ canberracityband.com.
	Craig Johnson, Director of Music Craig began his appointment as Conductor and Director of Music of the Canberra City Band in February 2007. Craig began his musical career with the Australian Army in 1977. He progressed through the ranks of the Australian Army Band Corps, until in 1989 he was selected to attend Band Officer training at the Defence Force School of Music in Melbourne. Career Highlights. At the completion of this two year course, Craig was awarded the ‘Commanding Officer’s Prize for the most outstanding Conductor’ of the course and was commissioned and appointed as the Second In Command of the Australian Army Band Kapooka. Various appointments followed until he was appointed as the Officer Commanding and Music Director of the Band of the Royal Military College (RMC Band) at Duntroon, Canberra in 2001. Career highlights during his appointment at RMC Band include: Commanding the Band of the RMC Band and arranging the musical support for the band’s performances at ANZAC Cove and Lone Pine in support of ANZAC Day Commemorations in Gallipoli in 2003. Performing as Musical Director and bands coordinator for many high profile events in Canberra including Beat Retreat and Graduation Ceremonies at the Royal Military College, and ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day at the Australian War Memorial. Performing as Musical Director for the National Capital Authority 2001 Carols By Candlelight. The event featured the RMC Band, the strings of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, the Woden Valley Youth Choir, and singers from Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne. The event was broadcast nationally on Channel 10. Arranging all administrative and logistic matters for the deployment of the RMC Band to East Timor in 1999. This deployment included the ‘Tour Of Duty’ Concert for Channel 7, the RMC Band tour of East Timor, and a recording for Channel 9 of ‘Silent Night’ which was sung by a 100 voice multi-national choir. Being awarded a Chief of Army Commendation for ‘the highest levels of professionalism as an administrator and musician’ and ‘outstanding efforts in the administration and conduct of three deployments of the Band of the Royal Military College to Bougainville’. Craig left the Australian Regular Army in 2006, and now works in the field of Occupational Health and Safety. He has a wide background and experience in musical theatre in Canberra, having been the Musical Director for Canberra Philharmonic Society’s productions of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and ‘Grease’, for which he was nominated for a Canberra Area Theatre Award. Craig has recently been appointed as the Musical Director for Canberra Philharmonic Society’s 2008 production of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’.