On Sunday 17th March 39 members of the Port Macquarie Hastings Municipal Young Guns Concert Band ventured south to Sydney ready to perform at the 2011 Royal Easter Show. These children ranging in age from 10 to 15 had spent weeks learning new pieces of music as well as marching and playing at the same time.

They successfully lead the Street Parade at the Royal Easter Show on both Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th April. The band performed three times each day. Two performances were in the Street Parades and one was a selection of additional music near the very famous Olympic Water Fountain at Olympic Park.

The band accepted the invitation to play back in late February and were not quite sure what the venture would bring. The band generated such interest amongst those at the Show that many people were enquiring where these very talented children came from. Many were amazed they had traveled so far to perform. The organizers of the Royal Easter Show expressed their delight in working with such well mannered and talented youth.

An invitation to perform again next year may come their way at the beginning of 2012.

This performance backs onto a very successful tour for the band last year to Hong Kong. It is believed that audition tapes are now being organized and sent overseas in planning for 2012.

Many thanks goes to Frank Rugers, the Musical Director of the Young Guns, who spent hours arranging music and teaching the children to become a marching band; Marc Clapton, who lead the band successfully and conducted on this occasion; Ann Hamilton who arranged all accommodation and transport and Magic Photographics for capturing amazing shots of the band.