The Spring Blooms Again concert at the Seymour College Performing Arts Centre showed off the talents of the musicians led by bandmaster and arranger Erik Andersen, who has been the band conductor since 1999.
Seymour FM presenters Cynthia Lim and Hank Kreemers introduced the compositions and the audience was very appreciative of the wide variety of musical pieces played by the band during the afternoon performance.
Musicians came from Mitchell and Strathbogie shires, with a couple from Shepparton to assist the band.
Concert highlights included young trumpeter Leroy Anderson and clarinet players Ken Mival, Kay Sharples and Annette van der Schoot.
First-time Mitchell Shire Concert Band members Gaye Bond, Barry Thompson, Ivan Maksymov, Bridget Robinson, Rod Junor and Matt Birtchnell gained experience in front of a Seymour live audience.
It was also gratifying to see life member Ron Fullerton, a member since 1975, long-time member Peter Smith and deputy director Sandy Sexton still enjoying being integral members of the band.
Sandy conducts learner classes for folks who would like to learn how to play a band instrument or for those more experienced in playing in a band.
The spring concert lifted the spirits of the audience with the evergreen renditions ranging from The Beatles, George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Queen, Acker Bilk, Irish airs and Ukrainian and Hungarian folk songs, as well as some haunting and lively melodies.
