What lead me to this moment…
Compared to my friends in the National Band, I was exposed to brass banding quite a bit later in life. In Australia, kids are lucky enough to have instrumental music embedded into the school curriculum, so we could learn a musical instrument and play in a band whilst in school. However, alongside our favourite collaboration of brass and percussion, these bands also consisted of flutes, clarinets and saxophones. I started learning trombone when I was 10 years old and quickly made it into the senior band in primary school. That’s when I got the itch for trombone and continued to play in wind bands until year 11 (high school in Australia) where I met my first serious trombone teacher - Bill Barker. Bill is a legendary euphonium player in the Australian brass band scene as a life member of Brisbane Brass, an amazing teacher, friend and person. My younger sister, Unnah (a trumpet player), and I started getting lessons with Bill and he quickly realised that we were the ultimate package deal for the local B Grade band, Brisbane Brass 2, conducted by John McKechie, yet another excellent euphonium player. From the first rehearsal, my sister and I fell in love with brass bands, and we were unstoppable. Our parents agreed to drive 40 minutes one way every week for us just to go to rehearsals. We continued to go every week and we even got to see the A Grade band, Brisbane Brass 1, in action with Bill conducting. We both knew that we HAD to get into that band and it became our mission to get there!
Once I got accepted into the Queensland Conservatorium, I was a regular member of Brisbane Brass 1, which essentially consisted of most of the Con brass students. During my time at Uni, I was lucky enough to play in the National Australian Youth Brass Band under Prof. David King, went to the Beijing International Band Festival with Brisbane Brass, started and conducted Brisbane Brass Juniors with my friend, Jon Adams, and play in the Queensland Conservatorium Brass Band under Greg Aitken. In 2018, I was given the opportunity to join Brisbane Excelsior under Howard Taylor and sat between the mighty Michael Purtle and Jake Mirabito. Playing for this band was an absolute dream and I learnt so much playing next to these gentlemen.
Aishah performing with the New Zealand Army Band
Then came 2019 where I finished my degree and won a job with the New Zealand Army Band. I was lucky enough to move to New Zealand and be given my first Principal Trombone spot with Leopard Coachlines Canterbury Brass and the NZAB. This was another huge step in my trombone career where I had to step up my playing and leadership skills to match what was surrounding me. And again, I loved it!! Once I heard there was a National Band of New Zealand, I knew that I had to be part of it. After auditioning in 2021, I got an associate position but then was officially invited by Garth Coffey and David Bremner to join the band (when I got the email, I was ecstatic!!). I now have the pleasure of playing for North Shore Brass under Harmen Vanhoorne where I have loved every second of it. Every single band experience has taught me wonderful things and I wouldn’t change it ever.
This leads me to the upcoming National Band of NZ tour of Australia with Philip Cobb and Owen Morris. I am lucky enough to be 2nd Trombone in the National Band and am currently part of the marketing team. With a month to go, we are frantically doing everything in our power to get ticket sales up through advertising and word of mouth. The lead-up to this tour is insane but I cannot wait to meet up with all of the wonderful National Band people and create an unforgettable musical experience for the bandies in Australia. I am also looking forward to seeing all the people who inspired me and helped me to get to where I am today. It is because of them that I can perform with the National Band of New Zealand and can inspire other young bandies. I CANNOT WAIT!!
