SALE City Band was part of a three way tie for second place at the annual state championship for bands at Box Hill.

In a most unusual situation with three bands all scoring the same number of points for second place the contest orgarrisers were caught by surprise.
The winning band was the Leongatha Concert Band with a score of 511, next was Croydon Wind Symphony, Sale City Concert and Werribee Municipal Concert bands all with 498 points.
For the three bands to tie was most surprising as there were three adjudicators who independently scored three pieces of music.
Scores were then added together.
The odds against the adjudicators giving three bands the same score are very great.
Sale City Band was congratulated by Box Hill Band, who hosted the competition, for its outstanding performance at the contest and awarded a trophy to commemorate their equal second placing.
The band is now preparing to play at St. Paul's cathedral, Sale concert and St. Anne's and Grammar School Fete which be held in late October.

SALE City Band will have the chance to disllay its versatility when it teams up with a jazz band at a concert later this month.

The band will present a melody night concert on November 27, and lovers of good music will enjoy an extra treat when the band gets together with the Riviera Dixie-land Jazz Band to entertain concert goers.

According to band master Hugh Davies, opportunities to combine with other musicians give the band a chance to show how versatile a brass band can be.

"In our recent concert at St. Paul's Cathedral in Sale we were able to play with the pipe organ. ''The organ was played by Derek Nichols and we opened the concert with Thus Spake Zarathustra, which is better known as the theme from the movie 2001. "It was a grand opportunity to fill the cathedral with some really big sounds and use the wonderful acoustics," Mr Davies said.

The band has had a few busy weeks between playing for the opening of the new Port of Sale Civic Centre, the Port Albert Regatta and to mark the new management of a local icecream shop.

The November 27 concert is the band's annual concert and is a great way for the people of Sale and district to hear the variety of music the band is able to play.

"Our band has had a long and proud history in Sale," Mr Davies said.

"The great thing about music is that age is no barrier. Some of our members haven't yet left primary school but they proudly take their place, with confidence, next to the more senior members of the band."

"Within the band we have several family groups, parents and their children, playing together to uphold the proud history of the band," adds Mr Davies, whose own daughter is among the players.

The melody night concert will be staged in Sale Memorial Hall beginning 7.30pm and will be followed by supper.

Cost will be $7, or $5 for concession and $14 a family.

THE Brass Section of the 48th City of Sale Eisteddfod belongs to Rachael Mcllwame.

Rachael finished the day with a first in the solo 18 years and under, second in the open solo, first in the duet 16 years and under, first in the duet 16 years and over and played in the winning ensemble 18 years and under, the winning ensemble 19 years and over as well as playing in the Sale City Band which won the D grade band competition.

Rachael was also the winner of the Sale Central Rotary Bursary Most Promising Junior 15 years and under.

Organisers said she demonstrated a love of music and was able to play the trombone with feeling and passion.

Vic Boyle, Victorian Band League Adjudicator, complemented all the competitors on the quality of the works presented and was pleased to see the large number of young players associated with all the bands.

The solo 12 years and under was won by Terina Davies, another member of the Sale band. Terina gave a very polished performance.

Glen Morriss, Maffra Band, took out the open solo and was second in the solo 18 years and under.

Glen is an excellent player with enormous potential.

In the D grade band contest all four bands played extremely well and organisers were pleased to see such a big increase in numbers from the Bairnsdale and Maffra bands.

For the third year in a row, Sale City Band was once again judged best on tbe day.

Sale scored 110 points, Maffra 106 and Morwell Citizens Band 104.

Sale gave an excellent performance of some difficult works.

Vic Boyle, adjudicator, congratulated all the bands on their playing.