Australia's champion Band records for Reed Music
Australia's Champion Band, the North West Wind Ensemble records CD of My Favourite Band.
Conducted by well-known musician James Brice, the North West Wind Ensemble has completed a 72 track recording of Sam Seabrook's unique Australian band method. Available on CD or as a free download the recording is an excellent resource for students using My Favourite Band as a play-along CD. As a reference for developing accurate intonation and rhythm, this new recording will be useful for years to come. For providing a great venue, a special thanks goes to Noel Simmons, Director of the Castel Hill R.S.L. where the CD was recorded.
The Castle Hill RSL North West Wind Ensemble was established in 2004 to provide musicians with the opportunity to play an advanced repertoire of modern concert band music. The band consists of around 50 amateur and professional musicians from around Sydney. The band has had stunning success at State and National Championships and is building a wide repertoire. The band has an Open A competition grading.
Conductor James Brice was educated at the University of Melbourne, where he completed a Bachelor of Education, majoring in music education, conducting, instrumental performance and drama. He has studied conducting with Barry Bignell for three years, in which time James was appointed the Musical Director of the Moorabbin Brass Band, Head of Brass Studies at St. Leonard's College and also conducted the University of Melbourne Wind Orchestra.
After moving to Sydney in 1996 to accept the Principal euphonium/trombone position with the Royal Australian Air Force Air Command Band, James has worked extensively as a conducting and brass clinician, working with The Hills Music Academy, Holroyd Brass, City of Wollongong Brass Band, Crestwood Primary School Bands and Kellyville Public School Bands to name a few. He is currently the Musical Director of the Macquarie Towns Orchestra and in addition, James teaches many tuba and euphonium students in the Hills area.
James was appointed the Musical Director of the Castle Hill RSL Youth Band and the North West Wind Ensemble in April 2005. He proudly led both bands to 'A Grade Championship' success, in both Junior and Open fields, at the 2006 Australian National Band Championships in Brisbane. In addition to this, the CHRSL Youth Band was awarded 1st place honours in the ANZAC Day march, taking out the Youth and Cadet Section, for the second consecutive year.
In the R.A.A.F Air Command Band James performs regularly on euphonium, trombone, bass trombone and tuba. James has also attained his A Mus A on euphonium with Distinction in 1993, upgrading this to a Licentiate Diploma in 1995, being the first euphonium player to attain this diploma in Australia. To further promote the euphonium and the repertoire written for the instrument, James recorded and produced his own solo euphonium CD, Symphonic Variants for Euphonium in 1995.
Since then James has also attained his AMusA on Tuba in 1998, performed with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.