Musical entertainment has been announced for the Maffra Mardi Gras, taking place on Saturday March 18.
Maffra Stage Band a real community act
The Maffra Stage Band is part of the Maffra Municipal Band, which has been part of the Maffra community since 1895.
The band consists of 16 musicians playing saxophones, trumpets and trombones with a rhythm section of bass guitar, drums, percussion and keyboard. They play a variety of musical styles from jazz standards to pop-rock, blues and swing.
Whether they are classic big band tunes from Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Maynard Ferguson to more modern pop tunes from The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison and Bruno Mars, the band has a distinctive sound that is unmistakably recognised as the ‘Big Band Sound’.
The Director, Kristian Hunter, is an experienced musical director and performer, having played in various groups from brass bands to orchestras. He is the founder and musical director (MD) of the Ole Skool Big Band and was MD for the Latrobe Theatre Company production of We Will Rock You in 2020.
The Stage Band was formed in 2019 under the direction of Rob Woodhouse from the first alto saxophone chair. As the band progressed and Kristian joined, it was decided that he should direct the band.
Since then, the band has become a more cohesive whole, has learnt a massive amount of new repertoire and become a top performance band, playing at the Maffra Show, all the Maffra Memorial Hall band concerts, at Maffco Brewery and Distillery and the Maffra Rotunda.
Members of the band range in age from 15 to 76, including people young and old who are still having lessons, and past professional players. It is a real community band for and of the Maffra and Districts community.
Maffra Stage Band will be playing in front of the stage at the Mardi Gras from 4.30pm to 5.30pm and after the parade until the presentation.
Tayla Clavarino brings the country passion
Tayla Clavarino is a 23-year-old Americana/Country singer-songwriter from Gippsland who has a passion for music and sharing stories for people of all ages to enjoy. Ms Clavarino has an array of accolades including the 2022 Pioneer Valley Country Music Senior Overall Winner, The 2020 CCMA Senior Performer of the Year and many more.
Ms Clavarino is a 2019 graduate of the CMAA Academy of Country Music. She has played alongside artists such as Carter and Carter, Lyn Bowtell, Adam Harvey, Jayne Denham, Catherine Britt, Michael Waugh, Kasey Chambers and many more.
Ms Clavarino will be playing on stage at the Maffra Mardi Gras from 5.30pm to 6pm.
