The US Navy exercises in Australia brought a pleasant surprise for a group of Tweed students.
The Navy Band always travels with the fleet and, while the regular sailors were taking part in the exercises, the band – the Japanese-based Seventh Fleet Navy Band – was touring around, doing concerts. Thanks to an inquiry from local music teacher Andrew Best, they ended playing a special show at Banora Point Primary before working with students from not only Banora Public but also talented students from Tweed River High, Lindisfarne Grammar and Murwillumbah High.
At the end of their workshop, the combined school and Navy Band, under the baton of Andrew Best, took to the local shopping centre for a number of performances.
“I saw them playing at Broadbeach a couple of years ago and I approached them to find out how we could get the band down here,” Andrew said.
He said working with a Gold Coast-based liaison officer, he was able to set up this visit and not only show the students what a band of this calibre is like, but also give them a chance to work together.
Seventh Fleet Band Master Lt Jeff Wrenn said the musicians enjoyed the visit.
“It is nice to see the kids get all excited,” he said.
“They might only see bands like ours on television, but to see them in person is pretty special.”
