Daniel in the Lion's Den

Boroondara Brass

Twenty-one-year-old Daniel van Bergen is set for the biggest challenge of his young life.

Newly appointed as the conductor of Victorian B-Grade champions Boroondara Brass, he is one of the youngest people ever to be appointed to such a highly regarded position.

Danny van Bergen at Ballarat, 2005

With the many Boroondara Brass players being his own age or older, Danny may well feel he as followed his namesake by stepping into a pit of lions!

However, such is the respect he has earned from his colleagues, band members are delighted that this superbly talented young man will take them on to even greater heights.

Having started organ at six, and cornet at eight in his home town of Echuca, Danny rose to become Principal Horn at Echuca Federal Band for six years, and Principal Percussion for two years, during which time the band won a national title.

In 1999 he joined the Victorian State Youth Brass Band where he held both Principal Horn and Principal Euphonium positions. He won seven junior state titles between 1998 and 2002, and moved to Melbourne in 2003, where he joined Boroondara Brass as Principal Euphonium, and then Principal Horn.

After playing with many Melbourne brass bands, he became conductor of Boroondara Youth Brass in 2004, following which the young band won every competition it entered, culminating in dual National Titles (Junior B and C) in Adelaide in 2005, and making Danny the youngest person to ever conduct a band to win a National Championship.

Booroondara Youth Brass at the Adelaide National Championships, 2005

Three years ago he achieved his A. Mus A on tenor horn, then in 2003 he got and A Dip A in Musical Theory, specialising in Harmony and Counterpoint, and has recently gained his A.T.C.L. on euphonium.

Most days you can find him at Deepdene Primary School, where he teaches brass and piano and conducts their award-winning concert band and teaches other instrumental ensembles.

And to top off an amazing year for Danny van Bergen, his Boroondara Youth Brass has just been awarded the Merv Simpson Trophy for the most successful band of any level!

Daniel's Story:

"I grew up in Echuca and at age six started learning the organ with Ted Musgrove. At age eight I started learning the cornet with the Echuca Federal Band under Doug Morrison. Over a few years I went through a succession of instruments and positions in the band (including Percussion when my teeth fell out) and finally settled on tenor horn.

I was Pricipal Horn for the Echuca Federal Band for six years and Principal Percussion for two, including when the band won a National Title. In 1999 I joined the Victorian State Youth Brass Band were I held both the Principal Horn and Principal Euphonium positions.

Between 1998 – 2002, I won seven Junior State Titles on tenor horn, baritone and euphonium and a host of other competitions, including Royal South Street, Bendigo Eisteddfod, La Trobe Valley Eisteddfod, and Kernag Eisteddfod.

In 2003 I moved to Melbourne to study and joined Boroondara Brass, first as Principal Euphonium under Tom Paulin and then Principal Horn under Wally Pope.

I have played with a number of bands, including Hawthorn Band, Brunswick City Band (now Moreland City Band), Kew Band, Greater Bendigo, Marist Brothers and others. For many years I also played Principal Trumpet and Principal Trombone in stage bands, big bands and a Latin band.

In 2002 a gained my AMusA on Tenor horn; in 2003 a gained an ADipA in Musical Theory specializing in Harmony and Counterpoint; and in 2005 I gained my A.T.C.L. on Euphonium. I have also achieved Grade 8 Classical Organ.

I'm currently an Executive Councillor for the Victorian Bands' League.

I also have a passion for musical theatre and opera and have been involved with many shows and companies and have had many positions from orchestra to cast to Musical Dircetor, including Cats, Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat, Witches of Eastwick, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Miserable.

I first started Conducting in Year Nine at St Joseph's College, Echuca were I was Conductor of the Junior Concert Band, and later in secondary school became co-musical director of the Senior Show Band and Senior Concert Band. From there I moved on to conducting a combined concert band to a win at the Melbourne Battle of the Bands.

In 2003 I accepted the position of Deputy Musical Director for the Diamond Valley Brass Band. In Octobrer 2004 I took on the position of Musical Director of  Boroondara Youth Brass. Boroondara Youth Brass went on to win every competition entered over two years, including Bendigo Eisteddfod, La Trobe Valley Eisteddfod, Sale Eisteddfod, Victorian State Championships and culminating in winning dual National Titles (Junior B & C) this year in Adelaide.

I am the youngest person to ever conduct a band to win a National Championship in Australia, and one of the few to win two grades in one year.

I have recently been appointed as Musical Director of one Australia's top B Grade bands, Boroondara Brass, and at 21 years of age one of the youngest conductors to do so.

Boroondara Brass at Ballarat, 2005, with the previous conductor and Danny's mentor, Wally Pope

I currently teach brass and piano at Deepdene Primary School in Balwyn and also conduct their award winning Concert Band, the Wind Ensemble and the Brass Ensemble.

I owe a lot of my style to the musicians who gave me my first experiences with conducting: my teachers at school, Dawn Bingham, Ted Musgrove and June Edwards. In the brass band world: Wally Pope, Mark Ford and Christina Bowden, who all gave me their time, experience and much encouragement."

We wish Danny the best of success and will keenly follow the progress of Boroondara Brass.