Successful Sale City Junior Band members are (from back left) Alison Tulip, Alister Miller. Fiona Shaw, Chris Hole, Damien Hole, Gary Jackson, Dale Kent, (second back) Aaron Lillicrapp, Jenny Lillicrapp, Ben Plowman, Laura Mclllwaine, Bjorn Vodanovich. Paul Erbs, Greg Hanlon, (middle row) Tony Anderson, Elva Vodanovich, Holly Lillicrapp, Kate Watson, Fiona Brand, Bernadette Hole, V1cki Geddes. (front) Stuart Mowat. Kynan Graves, Matthew Monck, bandmaster Mr Hugh Davies, Fiona Mowat, Ben Rowe, William Lillicrapp. Absent Ian Davidson. Rueben Geddes.

SALE City Junior Brass Band has won its section in the Box Hill Annual State Championships.

Playing against Parade College, Northern Youth Band and Maryborough Junior Band in the junior brass B gade section. Sale won with a nail-biting margin on one point between first and second place.

lt was the first time the band had entered a major competition outside the Gippsland region.

The band has had a successful three months, also winning its sections at Sale Eisteddfod and taking out the Arthur Bunn trophy at Yarram Eisteddfod.

The 29 players are led by their proud musical director Mr Hugh Davies.

AN enthusiastic audience of 200 welcomed the Australian Welsh Male Voice Choir last weekend in Sale Memorial Hall.

This choir, which toured overseas in 1988 and took part in an Albert Hall Concert in London, demonstrated a quality of musical sound in which sensitivity to different styles of music was electrifying.

Their wide ranging program included traditional Welsh songs like "Men of Harlech" and hymns.

They sang Negro spirituals, two operatic extracts and more modern music, including a song from a Marilyn Monroe film.

The superb quality of tone matched by an almost faultless diction, captivated an audience of all ages.

The skill and enthusiasm of the conductor George Hadwen inspired the choir and the audience equally.

Tony Dickinson, one of the choristers, proved an informative and humorous compere, and the accompanist Aileen Hedgemont set the mood for many of the songs by her supportive playing which was delicate or strong as required.

Sale City Band under Hugh Davies provided a different style of music in the middle of each half.

This included songs from "Phantom of the Opera", a Max Bygraves bracket, and a selection of Rolf Harris specials.

The Welsh choir compere said Sale should be proud of its city band.

The Sale and District Arts Council, in association with Esso, was delighted to be able to provide a concert which set encouragingly high standards for the growing number of talented musicians and singers in our area.

SALE City Band has had a busy and successful month.

The band Performed at the Vic Health division one championship football grand final between the Latrobe Valley and Bendigo League.

The band participated in a combined Gippsland bands fun day at the Warragul Arts Centre on the July 29.

Several other bands from around the region, Morwell, Warragul and Wonthaggi took part in the day.

Each of the bands played several individual pieces and the day climaxed when the four bands combined to play.

The band, totalling 156 members, delighted the crowd by playing such pieces as 'Waltzing Matilda'and Alex Lithgow's campo-' sitions 'Victoria' and'Gippsland'.

On Sunday, the under 19 junior band will travel to Box Hill to compete in the State Junior brass band championships where they have been successful in the past.

On the August 10 the junior band and some soloists will perform at the Yarram Eisteddfod.

Jason Grimstead baritone saxaphone and fellow musicians

THE city's junior concert band is primarily a training ground for those wishing to enter the senior band, but also provides a lot of pleasure for players and audiences.

The group, formerly a brass band for about 10 years, has just become a concert band with the addition of woodwind instruments.

Members had their first public performance as a concert band last month. The band has 40 members but is hoping to attract more, according to band master Hugh Davies.

Many juniors who have played in it have gone onto bigger and better things, with six or so now full time professional music teachers.

According to Hugh Davies, the band provides something extra for the serious musician, apart from musical activities at school. It enables students to continue music at a higher level, as well as developing individual talents. ''They can enjoy really music away from the school atmosphere,'' he adds.

While called a junior band, it is not restricted to students - adults are more than welcome to join.

The band is one of this area's best B grade bands, and has performed well in competitions. "Early last year at Bendigo we gave an A grade band quite a fright, finishing only a few points behind in a competition,'' says a proud Hugh.

Under his baton the band plays many types of music including rock, jazz and show themes. "I try to expose the kids to all styles so they can get an idea of what they like. ''With some styles they may not have played before, they try it and find they like it."

The band strives to encourage youth, particularly in a city Sale's size. Says Hugh: "We have to rely on kids to keep numbers up in the senior band." About 10 of the keener members also play in the senior band.

Another attraction of the band is the social side according to Hugh it is like a youth club that plays music! "We're always looking for new members, would like as many instruments as possible," he adds.

Instruments the band would particularly like more of in its strength are flute, oboe , clarinet, saxaphone, bassoon, cornet, trumpet, trombone, horn, euphonium, drums, xylophone, glockenspiel and timpani.

The band plays easy to difficult music, so the something for all capabilities. It breaks during holidays, but will resumes the first Friday of school term.

The band meets each Friday at 4 p.m. in the band room, Foster Sale.