Mackay's musical Olympic ambassadors on show

The Mackay North State High School band members will relive their time as part of the Olympic International Orchestra in Beijing at a function in Mackay tonight (Monday 1 September).

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford, who is in Mackay for the Bligh Government’s ninth Community Cabinet, said the marching band had now performed at two Olympics—Sydney in 2000 and as the only regional centre musicians in the Australian delegation to Beijing.

“I congratulate the 24 band members who formed the Mackay Hub of the 2008-member orchestra, which included students from Australia, America, Japan, China and Guam,” Mr Welford said.

“The trip to Beijing was the realisation of a dream for the students who rehearsed for more than 12 months to memorise more than an hour of music.

“Not only are the band members excellent musicians, they were also good at keeping the musical repertoire a secret.

“All the music was confidential and had to be accessed on the Internet using exclusive passwords and I pass on my congratulations to the Mackay Hub Co-director, Kathy George, for managing this process.”

Member for Mackay, Tim Mulherin, said he was extremely proud of the home-grown talent who performed on the world stage as part of the Olympics.

“The band was only the second foreign group, after the Three Tenors, to perform in Tiananmen Square, and then as part of the first massed group to be granted permission to perform on the Great Wall of China,” Mr Mulherin said.

“Performances for the IOC committee and Olympic volunteers followed in Tianjin where they received a standing ovation. Several members were selected to perform for the arrival of the IOC chairman at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.

“Each performance attracted thousands of people and several were televised to an international audience.

“I’m pleased that the Bligh Government was able to support the students’ trip to Beijing by providing $15,000 towards the cost of travel for the students.”

Band members in full Beijing dress uniform will attend the Minister’s function for local education, training and arts representatives at Mackay Artspace from 6 to 8pm tonight.

A video of the band’s Beijing performances will be played. Year 11 flautists, Erin Dixon and Simone Maurer, will also entertain guests at the Bligh Government Community Cabinet lunch today.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 0419 734 985