History

The Armadale City Concert Band was founded in 1987 by Mr Don Cook with the support of the Armadale Rotary Club. Rehearsals were held in the music room of the Armadale Senior High School before the Band moved to the Performing Arts Centre at Kelmscott Senior High School.

During Don's reign the band played a wide range of music at numerous venues, including local churches (when he accompanied the band on pipe organ), Anzac Day Dawn Services, Araluen Botanic Gardens and in the WA Government House ballroom.

After twenty-eight years of conducting the Band, Don handed over the baton to Ms Amanda Johnson in 2013.

Amanda continued the development of the band, introducing players to new repertoire and continuing the tradition of performing at community events and collaborating with other local music groups. She conducted the band at the National Band Championships in Launceston, Tasmania, a wonderful experience for the band. Her skills as a conductor and her love of music shone through her time with the band.

After the continuing disruptions caused by Covid, Mr David Clunies- Ross became the Musical Director of the band. The highlights of David’s time with the Band was participating in the State Band Championships and a collaboration with the Heritage Country Choir.

In 2022 Mr Dale Pointon became the Musical Director of the band. Dale’s vast experience as a conductor and adjudicator were valued by the band, with a highlight being the Playing it with Styles concert in 2023, featuring Dr Matt Styles, the WAAPA Saxophone lecturer on solo saxophone. ale is in constant demand because of his musical skills and experience, and he eventually found that time constraints made it impossible for him to continue as Musical Director. L

However, in his role as lecturer/tutor at WAAPA, he has been instrumental in the development of the Band’s current Musical Director, Mr Zac Skelton.

Zac comes with fresh ideas and as a young man, has energy to spare. This is inspiring the Band to tackle repertoire it would previously have considered beyond its capabilities. The Band is looking to the future with excitement.