Brisbane Brass
Open Premier Grade | Musical Director, Mr Michael Keen.
Brisbane Brass aims to be at the cutting edge of the Brass Band movement in Australia. The band has a proud tradition of competing strongly at Regional, State and National events. Other performance commitments throughout the year see the band celebrate and advocate for new music from Australian composers, as well as tackling some of the most innovative repertoire for the idiom.
Michael Keen is an Australian conductor, music director, brass musician and educator. He is the Music Director of Brisbane Brass 1, Brisbane Brass’s Premier Grade band.
Michael studied at the Australian National University, the Queensland Conservatorium and the University of British Columbia, where he completed a Master of Music Performance. He undertook advanced conducting studies through the Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program and was awarded the President of the European Music Academy Prize after conducting the North Czech Philharmonic in Prague.
As a brass musician, Michael has performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic, Vancouver Brass Project and Brisbane Brass 1. His experience as a performer continues to shape his approach to conducting, with a strong emphasis on ensemble playing, musical communication and creating engaging performances.
Michael is a regular guest conductor with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra and has worked extensively across orchestral music, brass bands, musical theatre and opera. His conducting and music direction credits include productions of Parade, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Jersey Boys, School of Rock, Side by Side with Sondheim, Disney in Concert, A Little Night Music, The Rake’s Progress and Gianni Schicchi. He has also worked with Opera Queensland’s Open Stages Schools Program and the Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre.
Alongside his professional conducting and performance work, Michael is a Visiting Performing Arts Teacher at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).
As Music Director of Brisbane Brass 1, Michael leads the band across its concert and competition programs, championing challenging and diverse repertoire while building on the ensemble’s tradition of high-level brass band performance.
Rehearsals | Monday evenings from 7:30pm-9:30pm | The Gap State High School
For more information, please fill out an EOI form or contact us at secretary@brisbanebrass.org.au.
Brisbane Brass 2
Open B Grade | Musical Director, Ms Elena Katahanas.
Brisbane Brass 2 is one of QLD & Australia’s leading Open B Grade Brass Bands having won numerous accolades. This ensemble constantly strives for excellence in all that they do and across the year, are involved in a variety of performance engagements at a Regional, State and National level. BB2 is regarded for its welcoming atmosphere, performing challenging repertoire and playing a wide variety of styles and genres.
Elena Katahanas, a dynamic musician, graduated with a Bachelor of Music in French Horn from the Queensland Conservatorium under Peter Luff's tutelage in 2014. As part of the Conservatorium Horn Ensemble, she won numerous awards at the 45th International Horn Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee, including first place in both the quartet and large ensemble categories. Her time with the Australian Youth Orchestra and Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestras included national and international tours. Notably, she was the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s first conducting intern under Maestro Johannes Fritzsch and Peter Luff. As Musical Director of Brisbane Brass 2, Elena has achieved State and National success with her performances described as “moments of magic on stage.” Elena currently teaches at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School and is undertaking her Master of Music majoring in Conducting through the Elder Conservatorium under the tutelage of Dr Luke Dollman in conjunction with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
Rehearsals | Thursday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm | The Gap State High School
For more information, please fill out an EOI form or contact us at secretary@brisbanebrass.org.au.
Brisbane Brass 3
Open D Grade | Musical Directors, Miss Emily Matthews & Miss Meg McWilliams.
Brisbane Brass 3 comprises of a vast and enthusiastic membership base. Currently the QLD State Open D Grade Champions, this ensemble performs in a variety of settings across QLD. The majority of BB3 are school-aged students looking to further develop their ensemble skills whilst also improving as individuals. BB3 has the opportunity to perform at a Regional and State level annually as well as engaging with the wider community through their music.
Emily Matthews is the Co-conductor of Brisbane Brass 3, bringing enthusiasm and passion for music education to the role. With an with a 1st Class undergraduate degree in Music Performance (Honours) specialising in Euphonium, and a Master's in Teaching, Emily is a dedicated educator with a deep commitment to nurturing a love for music in schools. She has been apart of the Brisbane brass community for 14 years, experiencing the benefits and importance of community banding first hand. She is excited to be apart of contributing and sustaining the vibrant music-making community at Brisbane Brass.
Meg McWilliams is a co-conductor of Brisbane Brass 3. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance with Distinction from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University, as well as an Associate Diploma of Music in Cello from the Australian Music Examinations Board. Meg is a percussionist and member of the Brisbane Brass community since 2016. She is currently the string coordinator at Loreto College Coorparoo and a Low Strings Teacher at All Hallows’ School. Meg enjoys using her music education background to contribute to the brass band community that developed her own musicianship as a student.
Rehearsals | Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm-8:00pm | The Gap State High School
For more information, please fill out an EOI or contact us at secretary@brisbanebrass.org.au.
