TOMORROW a tradition spanning half a century continues when a group of North East musicians once again entertain their community.

Beechworth Concert Band will be the linchpin of the town’s Carols By Candlelight, the latest engagement in a performing history that dates back to 1964.

Intertwined with the band’s story is the life of its leader Geoff Crossman, whose parents Herb and Joan had started the venture the previous year.

“They were ex-Salvation Army background, so they had the music in their blood, I guess,” Mr Crossman says.

The band was one of many community organisations formed as part of the Beechworth Adult Education group.

“Some survived, some haven’t over the years,” he says.

Then aged eight, Mr Crossman had no thought but to join in.

“I was born with a trumpet in my hand, basically,” he says.

“That was my first toy that I could ever remember.”

Taking over as conductor/president in 1974 after his father had retired, Mr Crossman has been a mainstay ever since.

“The first 30 years we never missed a Monday night practice,” he recalls.

Overhearing this potted history, his fellow musicians joke, “When does your probation end anyway?”.

These days the band rehearses “as required” ahead of performances, with the key dates being Anzac Day and Carols By Candelight, which has been cemented on the calendar for more than 40 years.

Which is why musicians gather one balmy Wednesday evening at the George Kerferd Hotel conference room, the most recent of several homes for the Beechworth band.

“The practice sessions were in our house in High Street for the first 12 months,” Mr Crossman says.

“And anyone who could play any instrument, violins, piano accordion, whatever they could put together, they would come together.

“It became an orchestra, we ended up with 40 players in our heyday, which was a pretty good effort for Beechworth.”

Too big for a private home, the group rehearsed at the then CWA hall in Ford Street before moving to Bijou Theatre in Mayday Hills, where it became a fixture for about 30 years.

Over this time the musicians witnessed the closure of the original asylum, the ownership change to La Trobe University and the precinct’s present incarnation as a private development.

Mr Crossman says they have been able to practise in the hotel for more than a year, which he describes as a great gesture by the owners.

Now a concert band, the group comprises woodwind, brass, percussion, keyboard and electric bass.

Players come from across the North East — Chiltern, Mt Beauty, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga and of course Beechworth — to take part. Some are retired, others farmers, teachers or other professionals.

The conductor says gathering the troops can be “a complex little job”, but it’s a process no doubt familiar to many community leaders.

“I’ve got a hit list which I keep,” he explains.

“Each year I just add names or whatever as we have.

“Basically I sit down over a couple of days and just go through the list — Initially there’s probably about 15 calls I make and that gives me a basis to start with.

“Usually I get about a 95 per cent strike rate when I do put out the call.”

Among Mr Crossman’s recruits is trombonist Maggie Bettink, who joined the band at his invitation about seven years ago.

She values the comradeship of the group and what it is able to produce.

“With so much piped and canned music, it’s lovely to be able to present something live,” Mrs Bettink says.

“It’s quite a novelty for people when we play out in the town or in the park.

“And Beechworth is very blessed, I think, to have a live band, especially for the carols.”

The band’s newest member is Hans Sommer, who recently moved to Beechworth.

Attending his first rehearsal, Mr Sommer was immediately thrown into a photo shoot; he’s assured this isn’t usual.

Originally from Wodonga, Mr Sommer’s working life took him to Melbourne and then Canberra.

“I’ve retired this year and we’ve come home, so to speak,” he says.

Mr Sommer, a trumpet player, started in the Wodonga brass band and also played dance band music before marriage and children overshadowed this hobby.

But for the past 20 years or so he has played carols annually with a church band, a fact bound to make any conductor’s eyes light up.

“I just ran into Geoff on Sunday,” Mr Sommer says.

“Carols came up and the usual question, ‘Do you play an instrument?’.

“‘Ah... yes’.

“So let’s see where it takes us.”

The mood at rehearsal is relaxed and friendly as the players arrange their seats, tune instruments and listen to the inevitable housekeeping notices.

Introductions are made and latecomers greeted warmly before attention turns to the music.

Not all the 20 or so musicians can attend this practice but the presence of four trumpet players allows Mr Crossman the luxury of just conducting.

Carol books and folders of sheet music sit on each stand, following an annual routine.

“It’s still got my handwriting on it from last time,” one player observes.

But for some the music is new or it’s been a while between blows; for whatever reason at first there are some slightly ragged openings and required restarts.

Mr Crossman is unconcerned.

“It’ll all fall into place as we go,” he says.

And indeed he’s right, the improvement is rapid as the musicians adjust to the tempo.

Christians Awake, O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Nowell and others pass in quick succession as the band works through tomorrow’s program.

The pace challenges the players to keep up with frequent key changes and We Three Kings takes a couple of attempts.

“Look at your first note, check your keys,” the conductor instructs.

“We don’t want them to think we’re just a little old country band,” he adds with a nod and grin to the visitors in the room.

Asked what keeps him going 50 years on, Mr Crossman doesn’t hesitate.

“Just love of the music,” he says.

“Once it’s in your system it’s there to stay.”

This passion is shared by his players, many of whom are members of several bands, be they jazz or concert.

Percussionist Tony Mitchell first played with Beechworth Concert Band in the mid-1970s and returned to the group last year after a long absence.

“I rang him up to see if we could get him to come along, just out of the blue one night,” Mr Crossman says.

“And he said, ‘Oh, I was just getting my drums out of the shed’.

“And sure enough, there he was.”

Mr Mitchell well remembers how his musical career started in the early 1960s.

“My mate was in a band, they used to practise out at the old footy grounds in Myrtleford,” he says.

“It was the first time I heard an electric guitar; the hair used to stand up on the back of my head, I thought it was magic.

“So I said I wanted to be a drummer, because my mate was a drummer.”

Mr Mitchell’s beat plays a key role in the rehearsal, which continues smoothly through the carols that will accompany the community singing.

Outside the conference centre, shadows lengthen through the trees and a purple sunset fills the darkening sky.

But Beechworth Concert Band’s day is not done as the group continues its 50-year musical legacy. Perhaps part of its success lies in the old concept of keeping it simple.

As Mr Crossman advises his players, “First note right and last note right and everything else will work in between”.