MELBA BIG BAND: THE STORY
An all women band certainly has a presence, something which can be a highly positive model and example to young players and the general community. We think that a big band is a huge commitment for all involved and the Melba players are involved in a very special team.
BAND MEMBERS
CATH CONNOR
PIANIST, COORDINATOR
Cathy Connor is a Melbourne-based musician, music educator. She regularly plays with jazz ensembles in Melbourne and arranges and composes charts for large ensembles. Cathy has performed for many years as a jazz pianist, as a soloist, vocal accompanist/arranger and in various ensembles for commercial functions and numerous jazz festivals. She has been involved with community theatre as a musical director, vocal coach and accompanist. She is currently an educator within schools teaching jazz piano accompanying contemporary/Jazz Vce and tutoring ensembles. She has taught for many years in the the TAFE sector teaching jazz/contemporary piano, notation, theory and jazz performance modules and offers private tuition in Werribee, Melbourne.
Catherine has graduated with a BMus in Contemporary music from Victoria University BMus Hons (Composition) from Monash University MMus Stud (composition) at Melbourne Conservatorium. She also holds an ATCL and ADMT (Sydney Con).
EMILY BRYCE
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Emily Brice works as the Head of Woodwind at Wesley College, Glen Waverley Campus. Emily started teaching at Wesley College in 2011, and conducts various concert bands, small jazz ensembles and jazz big bands. For the last 4 years Emily has worked with the schools’ senior big band. In 2016, Wesley’s senior big band placed 2nd in Division 2 at the annual nation-wide school jazz festival, Generations in Jazz, held in Mt Gambier, in 2017 the ensemble placed 1st.
Emily has only recently started working with the Melba Big Band as of late last year in 2018, however, she has thoroughly enjoyed the experience of conducting a community big band. Emily has so far conducted the Melba Big Band at a performance early this year at the Sunsets Big Band Festival in Mordiallic, Melbourne, and is very much looking forward to their upcoming performance at the Castlemaine Jazz Festival in July this year!
HOLLY BRICK
BASS
Born and bred in Sydney, Holly started her musical life as a guitarist, completing classical guitar and education studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
She began playing bass guitar in her high school big band which ignited Holly’s interest and passion for Jazz.
Since moving to Melbourne, Holly has been an in demand bass player, performing with numerous ensembles across a diverse range of musical styles - from Folk to Flamenco, Bluegrass to Bossa, Polkas to Punk, Holly has done it all.
Jazz is still her passion - which is why she is so excited to be part of the Melba big band!
Holly also plays mandolin and upright double bass.
KATRINA BUTTIGIEG
SINGER
Big Band, Jazz, and Music Theatre vocalist Katrina Buttigieg has lived in Senegal and the UK before moving to Melbourne. Katrina's accessible and entertaining repertoire is sure to please.
RADHA CLARIDGE
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Radha Claridge began her performing career in 1982, busking in Europe. Her performance work has been a dedicated exploration of improvisation through playing jazz, blues, folk, dance music and her own original compositions. After completing a Diploma of Arts in Music at the VCA, in 1989, she played in a variety of local jazz groups, with reggae outfit Afrodisa , African dance bands Safika, Thula Sana and Aba Baku and Balkan/Kurdish jazz fusion band, Baran.
From 1989 to 2002 her original compositions were featured in various Melbourne Improvisor’s Association concerts, Melbourne Jazz Co-op events and local festivals. Career highlights have been inclusion in the 1994 Composing Women's Festival and in the 2000 Women's Jazz Festival.
In 2003 she formed Hoot, with fellow saxophonist Robert Jackson, receiving a grant from Arts Victoria to record their original compositions and they released a CD in late 2004. At this time she also performed an eclectic mix of blues, funk, Latin and reggae tunes with her bands The Radha Claridge Trio and Skafunkel. Radha currently combines her work as an instrumental music teacher with performances with the Melba Big Band and the Moreland City Band – Phoneix Project.
JANE MCGANN
ALTO SAX
Jane McGann is a flute and sax player performing and teaching in Melbourne. She has a particular interest in jazz and funk with influences ranging from Paul Desmond and Kate Bush, through James Brown to Robert Glasper and Snarky Puppy. She has played in bands of many genres in Melbourne from indie folk to funk, Latin, soul, reggae, swing and contemporary jazz, and has performed with artists such as Kate Ceberano, James Morrison, Ross Irwin and Vince Jones.
JUSTINE JONES
TENOR SAX
Justine Jones is a saxophonist, vocalist, composer, artist, actress and producer from Melbourne, Australia. She has 6 original music releases on her record label JJAS, “That Fate“(Jazz), As You Do”(Jazz), ”Live on 3CR”(Lounge), ”Themes to Assumption day”(Art Music), ”Transversing”(Duet original songs) and “Live at the Troika1973”(Vintage Jazz).
In 2007-8 she produced & presented TV show,“The Jazz Show” broadcast on Ch31. Justine has also appeared in many Australian TV, feature films and short films.
EVE MACLEOD
TENOR SAX
Eve Macleod has a strong classical and jazz background and began playing in jazz bands and orchestras during high school and has continued to enjoy the experience of performance.
Eve has particularly enjoyed working with John Morrison, Gil Askey and Wilbur Wilde during her years of studying and teaching.
Currently she plays Tenor Saxophone with Opus 21 Big Band based in Templestowe and Melba Women's Big Band based at Dizzy's Richmond.
STEF CARMICHAEL
TROMBONE
Stef has been involved in playing music from the young age of 7.
Throughout her playing career so far, Stef has played at many venues, including; Hisense Area, Comedy Theatre and The MCG to name a few. In conjunction with playing in various Live Melbourne Music events, including The Itchy Feet Pep Band, various Amateur Theatre shows, The Sounds of Silence and Dizzy’s Big Band, among being a dep for numerous other Melbourne Trombonists.
Stef has studied a Bachelor of Music and is currently undertaking her Masters at Melbourne University.
CARMEN ROBERTSON
TRUMPET
Carmen was born deaf, but that never stopped her from picking up the trumpet! Growing up playing music to the cows Carmen decided to make the big move to the city to pursue music. She completed her Bachelor and Masters of Music which focuses on performing music with profound hearing loss.
She’s a music teacher by day and a trumpet lass by night playing in various big bands and orchestras in and around Melbourne and Victoria.
GEORGIE O'MALLEY
TRUMPET
Now based in Melbourne, Georgie is a french horn and trumpet player and teacher, who completed a Bachelor of Music with Honours at the UTAS Conservatorium of Music in Hobart. Georgie has had a range of experiences playing in different orchestras and ensembles including the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra, the UTAS Conservatorium Orchestra and various Australian Youth Orchestra Programs. Georgie enjoys playing in both classical and contemporary styles and is excited to be a part of the Melba Women’s Big Band.
HEATHER ALLAN
TROMBONE
Originally from Scotland, Heather graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a Bachelor of Music Education (Hons). Heather is a brass band girl at heart having played trombone since the age of 10. She has performed in a variety of different orchestras, brass bands, concert bands, pit orchestras and jazz bands over the years and thoroughly enjoys going to as many gigs as possible.