Since 2015, we have aimed to commission one major work per year. 2022 saw the band release a video for our 3rd International Women’s Day project, celebrating Australian Women composers. Our new venture brings these two important activities together.

The Oakleigh Brass Composition Project 2022 is a commission for an emerging composer who

• identifies as female
• is of any age
• lives, works, or studies in the City of Monash, Victoria, Australia

What is the project?

• A commission for a new work of about 5 minutes duration, suitable for a mixed ability community brass band, to be performed at a concert presented by Oakleigh Brass in 2023
• $1000 commissioning fee, to be paid on satisfactory completion of the project
• Access to the band to build a rapport with players and for workshopping of compositional ideas
• Mentoring by the band’s musical director, Dr David Keeffe, a represented artist at the Australian Music Centre (https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/keeffe-david)

How will Oakleigh Brass choose a composer?

Your application will be assessed by a panel of composers and performers who will consider its artistic merit and practical suitability for the intended performers. The panel’s decision is final.

It is hoped that the chosen composer can be announced in late October 2022.

What will I deliver?

• Typeset conductor score and a full set of parts as PDF – the band will print parts
• Sound mock-up to aid player preparation
• Attendance at rehearsals to workshop and refine your new work

How do I apply?

• Propose a work for brass band, describing your creative vision and how you would address the challenges of a mixed ability group; moving beyond traditional forms will be looked on favourably.
• Tell us about your compositions, including recordings if possible.
• Tell us about yourself, and how you qualify for the project.
• Send your application to composition@oakleighband.org.au by 15 October 2022.

Tell me more about brass bands.

Instrumentation:

Community brass bands are like community concert bands, typically with harder parts and simpler parts. Each section (think SSATB choir plus percussion) has a soloist and supporting players.

The brass family of instruments is like the saxophone and clarinet families, where there is strong family likeness, but also family differences. Compositions typically use textural variety rather than instrumental colour to engage the listener: brass players can use a range of articulation and attack, and some instruments can use mutes.

Our members play: trumpets/cornets, horns, euphonium/baritones, trombones, tubas and percussion.

About Oakleigh Brass

Oakleigh Brass is an innovative community brass band based in Oakleigh, part of the City of Monash in Victoria, Australia. The project is generously supported by a grant from the City of Monash.

This is an example of a newly commissioned work, currently in rehearsal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRXN_SteJcQ

Our players enjoy learning new works, performing in and around the City of Monash, at events large and small. Learn more about our events here: Events

Our player age range is from young adult to seniors, our ability is from beginner to professional brass and percussion. We rehearse and perform in wheelchair accessible venues.