Andrew Snell is leaving Opera Australia and will be taking up a new role at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music later this month.

After 2 1/2 years as Orchestra Manager of Australia's busiest orchestra Andrew Snell will be leaving Opera Australia to take up the position of Executive Director and CEO of the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. He will commence the role in Mid-May.

Continue with Willoughby

In addition to his current role as the Orchestra Manager for the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, he is also Musical Director of the Willoughby Band and as such has built up extensive connections with professional musicians throughout Australasia. His relationship with Willoughby, which is now starting to bear fruit will continue.

Experience

Andrew has experience as a teacher of music at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. These roles included Head of Brass at Hymers College in the UK, Director of the Auckland Brass Academy, Music Director of the Waitakere City “Trusts” Brass (NZ) and Lecturer in Brass and Musicianship at Charles Darwin University.

Calm and unflappable

Andrew has a deep commitment to the enrichment of quality of life through performing, teaching and the management of all things musical. He brings a level of passion in music and musical education not seen at the Conservatorium for a number of years. He has a calm and unflappable approach to the regular challenges of a performance and educational environments, and an underlying commitment to music that has been the mainstay of his career.

Andrew is married to a fellow musician with a young family and he is looking forward to taking an active part in the community and cultural life of Wollongong and the Illawarra.

Don Callaghan has been appointed Secretary/Administrator of the Band Association of New South Wales.

BANSW President, Jeff Markham officially announced the administrative appointment late last week.

Upon hearing the news of Geoff Moores passing, Don immediately expressed an interest in offering his services to fill this vital role in the organisation.

Following Don's own recent health issues which had forced him to withdraw from playing in a contesting Band, Don saw this position as an opportunity for him to find an active role within which he can contribute back to the Band movement.

Jeff Markham said: "Having previously served on the Management Committee and worked closely with Geoff and I, Don is well aware of the requirements of the position and is enthusiastic about our furture plans and the upcoming Nationals."

"Please join me in welcoming Don on board and in wishing him every success in this challenging and very rewarding role."

The Melbourne International Festival of Brass has anounced that this years Barry Tuckwell Prize will be for cornet.

Each year, the Melbourne International Festival of Brass (MIFB), offers the Barry Tuckwell Brass Prize - a competition for brass performers on a specific instrument.

Past years winners have included Mark Fitzpatrick (trumpet), Josh Davis (trombone) and Hidehiro Fujita (tuba) from Japan.

Similar to past years, the Barry Tuckwell Brass Prize winner will be offered a new instrument, that is for this year, a cornet.

The 2008 MIFB will run from 28 September to 4 October.

Further details can be found on www.mifb.com.au