Praise sung for Navy band

 

By Michael Brooke

IN TUNE: AB Tracy Burke performs with the Sydney Detachment of the RAN Band at Raintree Park performing at the Darwin mall as part of Navy Week activities last year. Photo: LAC Allan Coopere

The Chief of Navy VADM Russ Shalders, AO, CSC, RAN, recently gave the RAN Band a standing ovation at the closing ceremony of the Sea Power Conference, which speaks volumes about their ability as world class musicians.

The band performed a repertoire of Navy songs that had CN and some two dozen other navy chiefs from around the world honouring them with thunderous applause.
“It’s always nice to please the boss,” said the Music Director of the Sydney detachment, LEUT Michelle Coleman when recalling the RAN Band’s captivating performance at the Darling Harbour Conference Centre on February 2.

The RAN Band never fails to cast a powerful spell over audiences, whether it be at farewells for warships deploying on operations or ceremonies to mark national holidays such as Anzac Day.

This is largely because of the talent and enthusiasm of all the members of the RAN Band including the vocalist AB Musician Tracy Burke.

AB Burke, 25, has a beautiful voice (alto metsu) that often brings her audience to tears, particularly when singing I Am/We Are Australian at farewell ceremonies for ships departing on operations.

“I joined the Navy specifically as a singer and I have really enjoyed the opportunities I have been given so I don’t have any thoughts about leaving to pursue a professional career,” she said.

AB Burke and the RAN Band has shared the spotlight at such events as the Military Tattoo and the Wallabies versus Springboks rugby test in South Africa where they performed in front of crowds of 50,000 people.


In more recent times AB Burke and 18 other RAN Band members toured the MEAO where they conducted some 25 performances over a 16-day period in eight separate locations, moving more than 3.5 tonnes of equipment.
During the tour the RAN Band performed for more than 10,000 ADF and coalition troops.

LEUT Coleman said the highlight was the New Years Eve concert for 6,000 military personnel which “really emphasised our pride in being Australians”.

“Tracy isn’t the only star performer we have as she was well supported by all the band members, including AB Carl Risely and AB Kirsten Paynter, who are trumpet players and backing vocalists,” she said.

LEUT Coleman said that over the past three years the band has reinvigorated its commitment to the fleet by embarking musicians in 13 major fleet units, with another three planned over the coming months.

She said of the 98 current serving personnel, the band has 33 musicians who have the Active Service Medal, 10 of whom also wear the Iraqi Campaign Medal.

“Importantly, a high percentage of its people have served at sea, and the band continues to provide a very impressive output for Navy at home and abroad,” she said.

LEUT Coleman said the RAN Band is a prestigious ceremonial unit of the ADF, and is one of Australia’s premier military ensembles.
“The Royal Australian Navy Band is one of the few platforms in which Navy can take its message to the people of Australia,” she said.

“Navy musicians promote awareness in the wider community of Navy’s critical contribution to the nation.
“They reflect the quality of Navy’s people and the values to which we all aspire.”

LEUT Coleman said the Sydney detachment specialised in the delivery of ceremonial music, traditional and contemporary wind music, and popular music products.

.