‘As one, committed to enriching our community through the pursuit of musical excellence.’

Preston Band, formed in 1934, are one of Australia’s most distinguished A Grade bands.  They have been awarded the Champion Victorian State A-Grade Brass Band title on seven occasions in recent years (2013-22).  The band has also featured in the placings at the Australian National Band Championships for five of the past eight years.  In 2015, Preston Band performed with the New Zealand Dance Company at the Melbourne Arts Centre in the Contemporary Ballet ‘Rotunda’.  In 2016, they released their first ever CD, a Christmas recording titled “Ding Dong Darebin on High”. In 2017, Preston Band recorded their second CD, “Darebin Strikes Back”, featuring movie themes.

Preston Band regularly performs for the Darebin community at concerts and local events. The band performs annually at Anzac Day services, National Servicemen services, Carols by Candlelight at All Nations Park and the #darebinxmas live sites across the Darebin area. Preston Band are also invited to perform at large events, such as the Bright Autumn Festival, Port Fairy Spring Festival and AFL Grand Final Parade.

Musical Director

Andrew Snell was born in Taunton, Somerset (UK), and after a less than successful spell of piano lessons, started playing trombone at the age of 10. After playing with the local town bands and county youth bands and orchestras he moved to Manchester to study at University College, Salford.

After gaining a BA (Hons) in Band Musicianship, majoring in performance and arts administration, he moved across the Pennines to take up the position of Bass Trombone with the world-renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band.

With Grimethorpe he toured extensively, including Australia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, New Zealand and Hong Kong, and won the National Brass Band Championships and the British Open Championships, the two premier band competitions in the world. He was involved in the recording of many CDs, radio and television programmes, including the Eurovision Song Contest with an estimated audience of 100 million and the making of the hit film Brassed Off! for which Grimethorpe received two gold discs, one in the UK and another in Australia.

His conducting experience started at college, and he was a finalist in the Young Conductor of the Year competition and has worked with musicians as diverse as James Morrison, Nigel Kennedy and Tim Finn.

He left Grimethorpe in 2002, after 11 years as a member, and emigrated to New Zealand where he was engaged as Musical Director with Waitakere City ‘Trusts’ Brass; one of New Zealand’s premiere brass bands, whom he directed to become the Champion Band of Australia at Easter 2003 in Newcastle, New South Wales. Since leaving NZ for Australia in 2004 he has worked as Lecturer in Brass and Musicianship at Charles Darwin University, Orchestra Manager for the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (Opera Australia) in Sydney and Chief Executive Officer of the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. In October 2013 he was appointed to the position of Managing Director of Victorian Opera, where he oversaw a significant programme of commissioned works and regional engagement.

In 2015 Andrew became Musical Director of Darebin City Brass, Preston Band, which he guided to four Victorian A-Grade State Championships in five years 2014-18, along with three consecutive top-four placings at the Australian National Band Championships.

Andrew relocated to Christchurch in 2019, where he worked as Manager, Performing Arts within the Creative Industries Department at Ara Institute of Canterbury. Alongside this role, managing the institute’s Music Programme and the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts, he was appointed Music Director of Leopard Coachlines Canterbury Brass and the National Secondary Schools’ Brass Band.

Andrew moved back across the ditch in 2022 and is now employed as the Deputy General Manager of the Australian Music Examination Board (Victoria) and returned to Darebin City Brass, Preston Band in time to lead them to victory again at the 2023 Victorian State Championships.

Andrew has a deep commitment to the enrichment of quality of life through the creative arts. He is fiercely passionate about music and arts education.

PRESTON BAND PLAYER INTERVIEWS

GEORGE MELITSIS:

Instrument: Cornet

Been playing brass instruments since: 1992

Year Joined DCB: 1992 (Jack’s Juniors)

Previous Bands: Nil

Favourite Brass Band Piece: Spiriti

Band highlights: Performing Spiriti at the 2016 Nationals

Occupation: Teacher

JARED MOORE:

Instrument: Soprano Cornet

Other instruments: Bb Cornet

Year Joined DCB: 2013

Previous Bands: Moorabbin Brass, Hawthorn Band

Favourite Brass Band Piece: Tristan Encounters & In Memorium RK

Band highlights: Beers after Nationals

Other hobbies: Being a father (no time!), President of DCB

Occupation: Retail Area Manager

DAVID ROBINSON:

Instrument: Cornet

Been playing brass instruments since: 1995

Year Joined DCB: 2016

Previous Bands: Hawthorn Band (2004-15), Boroondara Brass, Shepparton Brass

Favourite Brass Band Piece: Tristan Encounters

Band highlights: Fed Square Performance in 2016

Other hobbies: Making coffee

Occupation: Music teacher/musician

Weirdest location for a gig: Hip Hop, 80kms out of Alice Springs (Ross River)

CLINTON FISK:

Instrument: Eb Tuba

Other instruments played: Bass Trombone

Been playing brass instruments since: 1993

Year Joined DCB: 2014

Previous Bands: Melbourne Staff Band, Hawthorn Band

Favourite Brass Band Piece: Nimrod, Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Band highlights: Rotunda, State Champions (2014-16)

Other hobbies: Watching sport and movies

Occupation: Supply officer