The Heritage Ensemble

 

Background

The Heritage Ensemble was initiated in 1983 to perform for the inaugural Heritage Ball held in the Sydney Town Hall in 1983. This event was held by the Bush Music Club, in conjunction with the National Trust and the Royal Historical Society of NSW, with sponsorship provided by Caltex Australia. Musicians from a number of Sydney based bush bands were invited to perform with David Johnson as the Musical Director.

Since then the band has gathered to rehearse and perform annually. It has served as a musical forum for established musicians to perform together and maintain friendships and for newer musicians to be introduced to the joys of playing with experienced players for a major dance function. At the last ball there were about 25 musicians who contributed to the evening.

It is a long list of players who have contributed their talents over the years to the ensemble. Some have arranged sets of tunes, composed harmonies, written out music, researched suitable dances and tunes, liaised with committees, or organised PA. All have played in the spirit of musical cooperation. The list is as complete as memory has allowed.

The task of keeping up to 25 musicians in some semblance of order has been cheerfully undertaken by David Johnson. As MD he has coordinated the music arrangements and conducted the rehearsals and performances. For this and other services he was awarded a Life Membership of the Bush Music Club.

The National Folk Festival 2004 saw the Ensemble presenting a programme of dances from the annual Bush Music Club Dance Competition on the Saturday night as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the BMC's founding in 1954

 

Performers

List of Performers 1983-1992

  List of Performers 1993-2002  List of Performers 2003-2005

1983-1992 

Name   Instrument

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992
     

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Sydney Town Hall

Round House UNSW

Sydney Town Hall

Peter- sham Town Hall

Chats- wood Town Hall
BISHOP Alex Flute            

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BOLLIGER George P Accordion              

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BOLTON Bob B Accordion            

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CAMBRIDGE Beth Concertina        

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CARLIN Scott Concertina        

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CLAPP Polly Concertina          

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COLLIS Craig Fiddle        

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DENT Leo Piano    

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DEPLEDGE Richard Concertina        

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DEVESON Mary Concertina            

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DOLISLAGER Christiaan P Accordion            

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EISLER Eric Fiddle

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EVANS Richard Concertina          

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FARRUGIA Simon Whistle            

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FOGGIN Bob Fiddle/Banjolin

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FORBES-SMITH Kingsley Concertina          

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FORBES-SMITH Rosemary Bass Concertina              

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GALLAGHER Paul Flute            

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HARBOUR Roy Fiddle

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HAYWOOD Margot Concertina            

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JOHNSON David MD/Fiddle

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LOCKWOOD Steve Fiddle/Banjo        

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McDONALD Wilga Fiddle                  

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McMAHON Pete Fiddle            

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McMAHON Sue Anglo Concertina              

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McRAE Mary Flute          

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PRIDE Ralph Fiddle/Banjolin  

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RICHMOND Wayne Piano/Conc/Acc'n        

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ROMEO Helen Concertina

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ROMEO Tony Drums            

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RYAN Meg Flute            

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SHORT Kim Drums          

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SPARKS   Drums  

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STUBBINGTON Jill Concertina/Piano              

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WILSON Greg Concertina    

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1993-2002 

Name Instrument 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002
Chats- wood Town Hall Chats- wood Town Hall Rock- dale Town Hall Roselea Cty Centre Bunda- noon Hall Bunda- noon Hall Cumber- land Hospital Hall Cumber- land Hospital Hall Parra- matta Town Hall
BIDENKO Louise Cello
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BIRTLES Felicity Sax/Whistle
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BOLLIGER George P Accordion
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BOLTON Bob B Accordion
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BOYD Alison Accn/ Whistle
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BRIAN Don Whistle
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BRIAN Jenny Flute
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BRIAN Phillip Flute
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CAMBRIDGE Beth Concertina
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DANGERFIELD Jim Anglo Concertina
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DE VANEY Clare Fiddle
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DOLISLAGER Christiaan P Accordion
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DUNN Maria Fiddle
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DUNNETT Brian Mandolin
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EISLER Eric Fiddle
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EVANS Richard Concertina
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FARRUGIA Simon Whistle
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FOGGIN Bob Fiddle/Banjolin
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FORBES-SMITH Kingsley Concertina
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FORBES-SMITH Rosemary Bass Concertina
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GILLARD Amanda Flute
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HUMPHRIES Elizabeth Cello
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JOHNSON David MD/Fiddle
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JOHNSON James P Accn/Sax/Rec
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JONES Vivienne Viola
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KAY Peter Mouth Organ
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LOCKWOOD Steve Fiddle/Banjo
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LUKE Jackie Piano/H Dulcimer
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McDONALD Rod Anglo Concertina
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McDONALD Wilga Fiddle
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McMAHON Pete Fiddle
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McMAHON Sue Anglo Concertina
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O'BRIEN Samantha Flute
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POLESON Mark Drums
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POLESON Chris Tenor Banjo
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POTTER Kathy Flute
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PRIDE Ralph Fiddle/Banjolin
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√x
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RANDALL Jessica Fiddle
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RICHMOND Wayne Piano/Conc/Acc'n
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ROMEO Helen Concertina
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ROMEO Tony Drums
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STOTT Miranda Fiddle
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STUART Tony Fiddle
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STUBBINGTON Jill Concertina/Piano
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STUDER Andrew Flute
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STUDER Rebecca Cello
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SULLIVAN Cathy Fiddle
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x√
TEOH Clara Clarinet
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WILSON Greg Concertina
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√x
WOOD Lindsay Cello
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2003-2005 

Name Instrument 2003 2004 2004 2005
Parra- matta Town Hall Nat'nl Folk Fest Roselea Cty Centre Parra- matta Town Hall
BOLLIGER George P Accordion
√
√
√
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BOLTON Bob B Accordion
√
√
√
√
BOYD Alison Accn/ Whistle
√
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BRIAN Don Whistle
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BRIAN Jenny Flute
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CAUVIN Mark String Bass
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CONROY Jacinta Fiddle
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DINGLE Tully Trombone
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DUNNETT Brian Mandolin
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EISLER Eric Fiddle
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ELLIOT Anneli Fiddle
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EVANS Richard Concertina
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FARRUGIA Simon Whistle
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FOGGIN Bob Fiddle/Banjolin
√
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JOHNSON David MD/Fiddle
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JOHNSON James P Accn/Sax/Rec
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KAY Peter Mouth Organ
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LOCKWOOD Steve Fiddle/Banjo
√
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LOCKWOOD Tim Fiddle
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MACKENZIE Malcolm Fiddle
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McDONALD Rod Anglo Concertina
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McDONALD Wilga Fiddle
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O'BRIEN Samantha Flute
√
√
√
√
POLESON Mark Drums
√
√
√
√
POLESON Chris Tenor Banjo
√
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POTTER Kathy Flute
√
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PRIDE Ralph Fiddle/Banjolin
√
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RANDALL Jessica Fiddle
√
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RICHMOND Wayne Piano/Conc/Acc'n
√
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√
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ROMEO Helen Concertina
√
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STUART Tony Fiddle
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STUBBINGTON Jill Concertina/Piano
√
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THRUSSELL Jemma Cello
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Gallery

2005 2004 2002 2001
Heritage Ball  2005
Heritage Ball  2004
National Folk Festival  2004
Heritage Ball  2002
Heritage Ball  2001
 

Contact

For information and bookings contact by email.

2006 Heritage Ball List of Dances with Page numbers and notes as pdf file.