Families in Banding - Episode 1

4BRDU looks at four banding families; The Magins, the Bains, the McDonalds and the Bowmans, all of whom have brass banding in their blood.

Episode One; like sand through the hourglass, these are the families in our bands….

Well, you know what they say, a family that plays together, stays together! In the first of our ‘soapie' series, we introduce you to four South Australian banding families.

More families needed to star in Episode Two – no experience needed, just that eccentric passion for playing in a brass band!

The Magin Family:

The Magin family: Mandy, Geoff and Matthew

The Magins are legends in South Australia. They've been in brass bands for generations. Jeannie (mostly known as Granny) still plays the tenor horn in Enfield Band, where her son, Geoff conducts. Geoff's two children (Jeannie's grandchildren!) both play there too - Mandy plays EEb bass and Matthew plays baritone.

Now, Uncle Carl Hughes (Jeannie's brother) plays the euphonium and conducts Para Hills Brass Band, and Michael Magin (Jeannie's son) plays euphonium in Tanunda Town Band. Oh, and there's another granddaughter, Renee, who plays tenor horn in the Enfield Band too. Whew….confused yet?

Jeannie had five children, and at one point in time they all played in the band. Jeannie used to walk them one and a half miles to band practice every week. Geoff says that's why he chose the cornet, so that he wouldn't have to carry it all that way!

There seems to have always been Magins in bands in South Australia, and you can be guaranteed to see the name crop up somewhere in a contest program. What a fantastic contribution they've made to brass banding!

The Bain Family:

The Bain Family: Sarah, Scott, Jacob and Chelsea

Sarah, Scott, Jacob and Chelsea haven't been in the brass band scene for very long. It all started with Sarah (Mum), who took up the tenor horn four years ago. She played the clarinet as a Special Music Student at Brighton High School in South Australia, but after school, didn't really pursue music.

Then her mother-in-law joined the Mount Gambier Brass Band as an adult beginner on the tenor horn, and Sarah had a bit of a go at teaching herself how to play it.

Well, the next thing was an advertisement in the local paper by the Marion City Band recruiting new players. Sarah figured her introduction to the tenor horn was enough, and the next thing you know she's in the band. So the story leads on from there – if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em. Scott (Dad) took up the cornet two and a half years ago, and has just recently (and very bravely) moved to BBb bass.

With the introduction of a training band (Warriparinga Brass) to the Marion Band, it was the perfect opportunity for Jacob (10) to take up the cornet, and Chelsea (8) to start on the tenor horn, and both children have been playing now for six months.

The family of four recently all competed with the two bands at the National Band Championships – certainly a fantastic effort for having played for only a short time!

The McDonald Family:

The McDonald family: Christopher, Elizabeth, Jessica and Darren

And another extremely welcome addition to Marion City Band is the McDonald family. Elizabeth (Mum), Darren (Dad), Christopher and Jessica (both aged 6 – yes twins) took up brass instruments back in July last year (2004).

Elizabeth, an accompanist and piano teacher, got the urge after playing piano for many brass players (goodness knows why!) – partly to benefit her understanding of wind players. A pianist from the age of six, and also a violinist, Elizabeth now plays tenor horn as well.

Darren played the trumpet at high school for a year, and after some persistent encouragement from Elizabeth, has now launched into the euphonium with absolute dedication.

Jessica, the older by two minutes, is learning the cornet, and Christopher gets a rousing big sound out of the baritone. They have a goal to make it into Warriparinga Brass in time for this year's Christmas Concert.

Elizabeth and Darren both competed with the Marion City Band at the National Championships this year after having only been learning for a few months. Their determination and commitment is inspiring.

The Bowman Family:

The Bownan family: Veronica [seated], James, Nicholas, Chris and Alexandra

Chris and Veronica Bowman were a doomed couple when they met in a brass band 24 years ago. So the story goes for so many children born of brass bandies – what else do we do but live and breathe brass band?

Chris (Dad) started learning the cornet at the age of fourteen at Aquinas College in Victoria, under the tutorage of Reg Bishop. He quickly developed as a player and by the age of nineteen was the Junior State Soprano Champion for Victoria. He played in several community A Grade bands in Melbourne before being transferred with his work to the country – a town called Traralgon, where he was to meet his wife.

Veronica (Mum) started out on cornet in the Traralgon City Band (VIC) at the age of nine. She moved around a few instruments and eventually settled on tenor horn for a while (but has now shifted to euphonium). Chris and Veronica were married in 1985 and lived in Melbourne prior to their shift to South Australia.

The children were taken to most rehearsals and engagements, and it probably just seemed a normal thing to play a brass instrument – they all started around the age of five, although it's hard to pinpoint a specific age or moment. There're even toddler photos of James sitting on the ‘potty' with a bugle!

Nicholas (19) plays cornet, and completed his secondary education on a music scholarship at Westminster School in Adelaide. Alexandra (17) plays tenor horn, and is the current Open Tenor Horn Champion of Australia. James (14) plays trombone and euphonium, and is the current Junior Champion of Australia on both instruments.

The whole family are members of the Tanunda Town Band in the Barossa Valley, South Australia. Perhaps the proudest moment for the Bowmans was winning the National Open Quintet Championship in 2003 – the first family ensemble to ever do this!