Wyvern Big Band

About Us

Wyvern (pronounced WY-vern) Big Band is a 17-piece band which enjoys rehearsing each Sunday, and is available for hire. Please Contact us if interested in joining or hiring us.

History

Wyvern Big Band (WBB) started out as an alumni band for former students of Wesley College (South Perth, Western Australia) on 4th August, 1996 - possibly the first of its kind in Western Australia (perhaps even Australia).

Since then, we have become more community-focused, with about one-third of members not having attended Wesley.

Since 2007, WBB has also transitioned from an instrumental band to one that can now boast two vocalists, adding another dimension to our repertoire.

To read about the 50th Anniversary of Wesley's expanded music programme in 2017, celebrated as part of Greatest Hits of the Wesley Radio Orchestra in August 2017 see 50th Anniversary

What is a Big Band?

The term "big band" typically refers to a band comprising about 17 instruments, with occasional variations -

A Rhythm Section - guitar, bass guitar, piano/keyboard, and drums
A Sax Section comprising 2 Alto, 2 Tenor, and 1 Baritone saxophones
A Trumpet Section with 3 - 5 trumpets
A Trombone Section with 2 - 5 trombones

If you've seen the movie "The Glenn Miller Story" starring James Stewart and June Allyson, you will get the general drift - a band/orchestra BIG enough (before the days of amplification) to entertain a large audience and/or couples dancing (the "old-fashioned" way!!) - a very popular pastime before the advent of television.

We're a Community Band

Wyvern Big Band is a community band. That is to say that most band members are excellent musicians - just that they have chosen to earn a living by another means (and, it might be said, one that probably pays better!). For example, WBB can boast within its membership no fewer than three "Doctors" - two of the medical specialist variety, and one Ph. D.

As a community band, the only person receiving a regular income from the band is our Musical Director (the person who stands in front of the band waving a baton, or baseball bat depending on how well we're playing). Our MD gets paid whether we perform (do "gigs") or not.

So naturally, when asked to perform, we can do so at a rate which is very competitive, because we don't have to pay band members. There are occasions when we need to fill casual vacancies due to band members having other commitments (e.g. family or work). In such cases, we recruit professional or semi-professional musicians who have superior sight-reading skills and usually don't even have to attend a rehearsal. Of course, they must be compensated accordingly.

In fact, our operating costs are very low - mainly due to our "alumni" alliance with the Old Wesley Collegians' Association (OWCA), and of course, Wesley College.

Some former members of the band (and even an MD) cut their teeth with WBB, and have since been enticed to join "professional" bands. These professional bands are mainly made up of full-time musicians and music teachers, so generally charge a higher fee compared to community bands like WBB.

Venues

With around 17 instrumentalists, plus vocalist, drum kit, piano/keyboard, amplifiers, and so on, you will understand that we need a reasonable "playing area" to perform effectively. We have squeezed into a smallish restaurant in the past. At the other extreme, we've also played in the Golden Ballroom at the Sheraton Perth Hotel.

Please don't think we're fussy - but there are limitations to where we can play. If outdoors, we (and more importantly, some of our instruments) don't like getting wet. Or having to contend with a stiff breeze.

Indoors is our preferred "comfort zone".

Our Music Directors