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Youth Band Musical Director - Andrew Eather Andrew began learning the trumpet, under local music icon Nobbie Neilson, while in Year 4 (1988) and joined Cairns Brass Junior Band in 1991. He started on 2nd Cornet and began lessons with the legendary Bob Favell. Andrew eventually transitioned to the Cairns Combined Schools and Citizens Band (now Cairns Brass 1) playing Flugel Horn for several years. Andrew was then promoted to Solo Cornet by Jon Christodoulides, the then conductor. He eventually took over the Principal Cornet chair in 2001. Andrew takes great pride in having played Principal Cornet for Cairns Brass for every Brass Sweat and Tears concert so far and notched up 20 years with the band at the beginning of 2011. In 2000, Andrew was a member of the Sydney Olympic Marching Band which performed as part of the Opening ceremony for the Sydney Olympic Games. Andrew plays extensively in the Cairns area, having played first trumpet for the North Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra and Cairns Choral Society productions over the last decade. Andrew has also ventured further afield as a soloist playing with the Mackay Choral Society’s Messiah (2009) and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in 2010. He also played Solo Cornet with Brisbane Brass 1 at the 2010 Australian National Band Championships in Hobart and in 2011 in Adelaide where the band took out 3rd place in a field of the best ‘A’ Grade bands from Australia and New Zealand. At the beginning of 2010, Andrew took over conducting the Cairns Brass Youth Band. He is the first to admit it was a steep learning curve but believes this band to be the most talented Youth Band in Queensland.