Darren Cole

Darren started his banding 'career' at the age of 10 learning baritone (sorry to say) with the Latrobe Federal Band (Tasmania). After 3 years of valve pushing he decided that the trombone looked a whole lot more fun so decided to make the natural progression to a musical instrument. In 1992 he moved to Launceston to study music and during that time was a member of Launceston RSL Brass. During 1994-5 he took up an invitation to play principal trombone with Dalewool (then Continental / Fosters) Auckland Brass in New Zealand but after nearly a year (reluctantly) decided that he should complete his studies in Tasmania. Winning the New Zealand Championships with that band in 1995 rates as one of his highlights! Darren joined WCB in 1999 after moving to Sydney for work purposes. In 2003-6 he was posted to Melbourne and during that time took up the chair of principal trombone with Kew Band Melbourne. A further posting back to Sydney in mid-2006 saw him rejoin WCB.

Darren has had great success as a trombone soloist, winning the Tasmanian Champion of Champions title on three occasions and in 1997 he won the Open Tenor Trombone section of the National Band Championships. Darren was also fortunate enough to be selected to be a member of Australian Brass on four occasions from 1995-1998 and was also a member of Pacific Brass at its inception.

As a conductor, Darren has also had much success, conducting A grade bands in competition on three occasions and winning all three (Kew Band Melbourne - Victorian State Championship 2004, Warringah Concert Brass - Battle of the Bands 2006&7). He has suggested that he should probably give up now! Darren is currently the Assistant Musical Director of WCB. He has a great interest in arranging for all types of bands and is rarely without some sort of arrangement 'on the go'.