I was born in Cessnock in the Hunter Valley of NSW in 1955. I visited the local brass band one Sunday morning and was given a trombone to try. I was hooked! Before long I was playing in my first concert. The second trombone part of "The King and I" may not be the pinnacle of musical excellence, but for a 10 year old boy it was heaven.

I studied classical music all through my school years, also playing piano and singing in the Chapel Choir at the Shore School in North Sydney. I had planned to be a scientist, but switched at the last moment and took a music degree at Newcastle Conservatorium, finishing in 1977. My happiest student memories are playing in the Newcastle Symphony Orchestra, where I met my future wife Cheryl-Ann, a violinist who was leader of the orchestra at the time. She currently plays xylophone in Wodonga Brass.

Together we spent several years playing classical orchestral concerts, pit orchestra work with local music theatre companies, and running a thriving AMEB studio from home. At one stage we taught around 40 students in piano, violin, viola, trumpet, trombone, and recorder. We were also high school music teachers, taking classes to year 12 level in both NSW and Victorian schools.

We taught at the Murray Conservatorium in Albury from 1983 where I also conducted the Border Youth Orchestra. For many years I was a brass tutor at the Border Music Camp where I had opportunities to learn a great deal about wind bands.

In 1999 I joined the Wodonga band as a trombone player, but moved quickly to euphonium. I had always envied the big tunes that seemed always to be the exclusive property of the euphonium players. Most recently I played Eb tuba in the band, and loved it!

We have five children, all musical (inevitable really given their parentage), and two of them are in Wodonga Brass with me.

Brass band music is the best hobby in the world. Where else can you have so much fun for a few dollars a week? Now that we are in C grade I intend to broaden the band's repertoire and build a more "British" sound. We may not be quite in the class of Cory and Black Dyke yet, but we get closer every time we play.

On Monday and Thursday nights and Sunday mornings I change brains and become the Director of Music at St Matthew's Church in Albury. I have a junior choir of 16 voices and a mixed choir of 25 very fine singers who tackle the cream of the English Cathedral anthem repertoire every week.

I have recently taken very early retirement after 30 years of high school teaching of music and computers. I now have time to concentrate on developing Wodonga Brass and my church choirs, learning the pipe organ, building an N scale train set, and driving my E-Type Jaguar in touring rallies.

If you are ever in Wodonga, turn up at the band hall on a Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. Everyone is welcome at Wodonga Brass!

Gregory Lewis AMusA,DipMusEd,GradDipIT