Jack Saunders

Jack Saunders is the founder of our bands. He formed the Terrey Hills District Band in 1979. The main motivation was to have a band to receive the players he had taught and placed in his Terrey Hills School Band. Jack was a music teacher in the school until his retirement in 1989. He still teaches music in the Terrey Hills Public School, and he still has a School Band that regularly performs well in school band festivals and contests.

Jack was born in Moree in Northwestern NSW. He played piano from an early age and was guided musically by his father, A.B.Saunders, a gifted composer and musician. A. B. Saunders worked as a composer of songs under various pseudonyms, for Palings Music Publishers in Sydney. Jack studied piano under Dudley Arkins, and performed in a number of classical public concerts in Sydney. He has played in many dance bands and still accompanies most of the band musicians performing in solo contests in Australia.

The Terrey Hills District Band became the Warringah Brass Band in 1989 when the band received funding from the Warringah Council in Sydney. Sadly this funding has terminated; however the band retains the name, to which Jack cheekily added the word "Concert" to indicate the musical (rather than marching) mission of this Brass Band. Jack conducted the band from 1979 to 1999 when he handed the baton to his son. Jack arranges and composes music for the band, and manages our extensive music library. He also performs as baritone, percussion or Bass player as required.

Jack's contribution to the musical life of children of all ages was recognised by Warringah Council when he was nominated "Citizen of the Year" for the year 2000.