An amazing musical event took place at Carey’s Caves in Wee Jasper. Robin Winterflood from the Yass Valley Concert Band said more than fifty musicians made up of our own Yass Valley Concert Band, the Young Town Band, Tuggeranong Valley Band & the ANU Music Society Band descended on the caves to be a part of a multi-band workshop & recording session.
Musicians brought music stands, chairs, drums, timpani and, of course, their own instruments down into the beautiful cathedral-like hall of the cave.
Limestone stalactites and stalagmites were the only audience, and they formed a beautiful and glowing backdrop for the large band of assembled musicians.
“What a sound! From the tuba section up to the flute sections, the sound of so many players in that beautiful place was phenomenal. The music performed varied from Beethoven across the centuries to ‘A Million Dreams’. All the players felt both the grandeur and excitement of the moment and their performance and sound was equal to it,” said Robin.
The day was the brainchild of Rodney Clancy, who first visited the cave as a member of the Canberra Men’s Choir back in 1999. It was that experience that led him to mastermind yesterday’s event. Rodney is currently the Musical Director of many bands and choirs encompassing Canberra, Goulburn and Young. After deciding to organise and create the event, Rodney then reached out to the Yass Valley Concert Band’s Musical Director Bryan Hooley to co-host and workshop the four bands.
“The day flew by, and it was hard to believe when it was time to pack up and leave,” said Robin.
Once again, equipment was loaded into a variety of vehicles and players dispersed back to where they had come.
Robin explained all the players agreed it had been a wonderful and also constructive experience. Careys Caves once again fell into silence, awaiting maybe another similar event in years to come.
