A Brief History

The band was formed in July 1996 by The Australian Academy Of Music as anadult starters band. The Australian Academy Of Music was a Queensland based organisation that had recently set up operations in Parramatta, NSW.

The organisation's aim was to sell musical instruments, to supply a venue where they could be played and to provide some instruction.

The Band's first Musical Director was a young woman by the name of Billie Holloway, who took the Band through its first tentative steps

The members of the band at that time had a varied background in music. Some players had some experience with music (eg they may have played a keyboard instrument) but some had had no experience at all.

The Police Citizens Boy's Club hall in Parramatta was provided for the band to reherse. This proved to be an "interesting" place to rehearse, as some of the musical pieces would be punctuated by the sounds of bouncing balls and Karate blows. It was also bitterly cold in the Winter and extremely hot in the Summer.

During the band's early days, it played in venues such as shopping centres and in the Mall at Parramatta and on one occasion entered a music festival and played at St Jospeh's College, Hunters Hill.

Unfortunately, The Australian Academy of Music had financial problems and it had to cease operations in NSW. In addition Billie Holloway had to leave the band. Before this happened however, she arranged for another musical director to take the band and his name was Peter Minkow. Around this time, the band's name was changed to "The Parramatta Riverkats".

Shortly after this, the band had a visit from another band from Shepparton in Victoria and both bands were to give a combined concert in Parramatta Mall. The Bands needed a place to rehearse and one of the members by the name of Christine Linkins who was a memeber of The Castle Hill Senior Citizens came up with the idea of using their hall. This was a reat success and not long after that Christine arranged for the band to lease the hall as our permanent venue.

This is the time that the band took the name "The Harmonix Concert Band".

Peter introduced the band to more difficult arrangements and took the band to a fairly high level.

The band performed at retirement villages, The Granny Smith Festival and Carols by Candlelight festivals.

Peter Minkow continued with the band until mid 2005 when due to various reasons he had to leave.

Soon after this, John Chiccarelli took the band and in 2006, Steve O'Brien joined in to assist.

Unfortunately due to other commitments or lack of interest, the band started to loose players and hafter some consultation, it was decided to admit junior members.

A new era has now begun inthe band's history.

We welcome new members and hope that they will be proud to be a part of The Harmonix Concert Band"