About Us

The Waverley Bondi Beach Band (now playing as Bondi Brass) was established in 1958 by Cliff Goodchild while he was principal tuba player with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. As one of the few brass bands remaining in the Sydney metropolitan area, Bondi Brass) is in demand for special occasions where the unique Brass Band sound is just what is needed.

Bondi Brass is supported by the Waverley Council, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, and for many years rehearsed in the historic Bondi Beach Pavilion, where it still performs at such annual events as the Festival of the Winds and Carols-by-the-Sea.

The Band has regularly performed at various metropolitan venues around Sydney, including Government House and Observatory Hill, as well as fulfilling our annual Australia Day and Anzac Day obligations with the Waverley Council.

Bondi Brass boasts a proud history of nurturing the careers of many of Australia’s leading brass players. Our current Music Director, Paul Goodchild (Associate Principal Trumpet, Sydney Symphony/Director, Sydney Brass) and Tom Burge (Charlotte Symphony) are two players with distinguished professional careers both in Australia and overseas who spent their younger days playing in the band.

As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering music in Sydney, the band organises the Annual NSW School Band Festival, (established 1962). The Festival attracts over 300 school concert and brass bands from NSW, interstate and overseas and, with over 10,000 participating students, is one of the largest of its kind.

The Band also supports Australian composers by commissioning works such as the Concerto for Trumpet and Brass Band by Barry McKimm (1995). In 2001 the Band commissioned a work by David Stanhope, which was premiered at the 40th Annual School Band Festival.

Bondi Brass draws its repertoire from the broad range of music available for brass bands, from the renaissance dances of Tilman Susato to the music of modern Australian composers such as George Dreyfus, David Stanhope and Barry McKimm. In between there are selections from movies and musical comedies, folk songs, classical and romantic symphonies, pop tunes and of course traditional brass band marches.

There are currently over thirty members of Bondi Brass of various ages from a variety of professions, and with one of Australia’s largest music libraries we can certainly find the repertoire to suit every occasion.

So whether you require a soloist/bugler, a full brass band or anything in between, Bondi Brass looks forward to catering for your next event.

Bondi Brass

Keeping Music Live