Sydney Wind Symphony was established in 1985 when the City of Sydney

City of Sydney

The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...

 endorsed the formation of the City of Sydney Youth Concert Band as an activity associated with the International Year of Youth

International Year of Youth

-Background:In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly adopted proclaiming the year commencing 12 August 2010 as the . The resolution calls upon governments, civil society, individuals and communities worldwide to support activities at local and international levels to mark the event...

. The wind band has since been known as the City of Sydney Bicentennial Concert Band, The City of Sydney Concert Band, City of Sydney Wind Ensemble and is now known as Sydney Wind Symphony, one of the leading amateur wind ensembles in the Sydney metropolitan region.

History

The Charter of the City of Sydney Youth Concert Band was successfully completed in 1986 and support was sought from the council to allow the ensemble to continue, this time as a marching band known as the City of Sydney Bicentennial Concert Band. The band performed at events leading up to and during Australia's bicentennial celebrations

Australian Bicentenary

The bicentenary of Australia was celebrated in 1970 on the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook landing and claiming the land, and again in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of permanent European settlement.-1970:...

 and toured overseas visiting England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, where it participated in the British celebrations commemorating the sailing of the First Fleet to Australia in 1787, France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 and the United States.

From 1989 the ensemble, described in 1992 as "the musical voice of our city" by Alderman Frank Sartor, Lord Mayor of Sydney, was known as The City of Sydney Concert Band and represented the city at a number of civic functions, including the Lord Mayor's charity concert, the arrival and departure of the QE2, the arrival of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh at Sydney Town Hall and the 60th Anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...

. In 1992 it undertook a three week European tour which included an appearance at World Expo '92 in Seville

Seville Expo '92

The Universal Exposition of Seville took place from Monday, April 20 to Monday, October 12, 1992 on La Isla de La Cartuja , Seville, Spain. The theme for the Expo was "The Age of Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented...

.

In 1999, the concert band changed its name to the City of Sydney Wind Ensemble and continued, this time, without the sponsorship of the Council of the City of Sydney. Since 2008 the ensemble has been known as Sydney Wind Symphony.

Competitions

Sydney Wind Symphony has competed regularly in the A Grade Open Concert Band Competition and was declared National Champion in 2000 and 2004, New South Wales State Champion in 2003 and 2005 and was placed second in both the National and State competitions in 2009.

Performances of Note

Performances of note include:

• World Expo '92 Seville
• Australia National Day celebrations in 1992
• Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• Host City announcement for the 2000 Olympic Games
• Centenary of Federation Parade
• Lord Mayor's Charity Concert
• 60th Anniversary of the Harbour Bridge
• Various Australia Day Celebrations, World Cup ticket matches and many more.

Concert Tours

• UK & France, 1987
• Japan
• Canada
• USA
• Nagoya, Japan, 1990
• Ayers Rock, Northern Territory, Australia, 1991
• Europe, 1992
• Eastern Europe, 1997

Musical Directors

• Victor Grieve, City of Sydney Youth Concert Band
• Victor Grieve, City of Sydney Bicentennial Band
• Harold Pollard, Assistant Conductor, City of Sydney Bicentennial Band
• Michael Butcher, City of Sydney Concert Band, 1989–1999
• John Buckley, The City of Sydney Wind Ensemble, 2000
• Steve Hillinger, The City of Sydney Wind Ensemble, 2001–2006
• John Buckley, Sydney Wind Symphony, 2007–present

External links

• City of Sydney Youth Festival Concert Band Concert Advertisement, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 1985
• Sydney Wind Symphony, Mosman Council Photograph 26 October 2008
• Sydney Wind Symphony Official Website
• National Band Council of Australia, 2004 Results
• Band Association of New South Wales, State Concert Championships 2010