Class act on the road

lass act on the road

Members of the Thirroul Public School band belted out tunes as part of a day-long concert tour on Monday.

WIELDING guitars, drums, saxophones and trumpets, students at Thirroul Public School boarded a bus on Monday and set off to wow audiences with a special concert tour.

The school's band performed at preschools at Wombarra, Bulli and East Corrimal, belting out classic tunes like the New Orleans Strut, Stadium Rock and March of the Romans.

The infant audiences provided plenty of clapping and cheering as the young musos showcased the results of months of hard work.

"It was a great chance for the kids to have a real-life experience of travelling around as a band and encountering different environments," band teacher Eric Dunan said.

The Thirroul school band formed last year as part of an outreach program run through the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.

Mr Dunan said many of the 21 students had never played a musical instrument before joining the band.

"Kids this age can learn pretty quickly and it's amazing how they rise to the occasion," he said.

"The thing I'm most proud of is that I can now hand out sheet music and they can all read it properly."

Band members enjoyed a taste of success earlier this year when they brought home a gold award from the Engadine Music Festival.

Mr Dunan said this week's concerts were the next step for the budding musical ensemble.

And while the children enjoyed their day in the limelight, Mr Dunan said the gruelling tour schedule took its toll.

"At the beginning the kids were very polite, but by the end they were arguing on stage and feeling the grind and frustration of being on the road," he said with a smile.