Artarmon Public School offers an excellent band program which operates under the direction of Matthew Walmsley, supported by a large committee of parent volunteers and the full support of the school. There are 200 participants across 5 bands and an orchestra, in co-operation with the strings program.
Interested in joining a band?
Students from Years 3 to 6 are given the opportunity to join the band. 200 students from these years participate across 5 bands, which include a training band, junior band, concert band, senior concert band, and a jazz band. We also have created an orchestra, in co-operation with the strings program.
Applications for the band program are taken in Term 4 for the following year's band program (students in Year 2 or above); instrument hire is available. All parents of students in the band program are required to volunteer to assist with the running of the band. For detailed information about the band program please refer to the 2025 APS Band information pack
Junior band, concert band, and senior band rehearse twice a week. Training band, jazz band, and orchestra rehearse once a week. Rehearsals times are given in the band information pack.
Tutorials
Tutorials are provided at school before and during school hours for all instruments. Please refer to our tutor lesson policy (PDF 152KB).
Instrument hire
If required, you can hire an instrument from the band rather than buy one. Please refer to taking care of your instrument (PDF 440KB) for more information about hiring and caring for an instrument.
Performances
All bands perform at the Easter band breakfast, the Father's Day breakfast, the band concert, and at carols night. Additionally, senior band plays for the Anzac Day ceremony and jazz band plays at the OC orientation day and for the presentation mornings.
Competitions and Festivals
The bands enter many eisteddfods and festivals; including the Sydney Eisteddfod, the Ryde Eisteddfod, the NSW Band Festival, and the North Shore Music Festival. The band director determines which band attends each festival, based on their performance standard and the commitment from all students.
Band camp and Band intensives
Each year junior band, concert band, senior band, and jazz band attend a band intensive in May, and a weekend camp near Sydney in the latter half of the year. The children attend rehearsals and tutorials and also have time for activities such as movie night.
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