Albany City Wind Ensemble conductor Alan Burnfield calls time on season with Classical Winds II concert

A love affair with the humble recorder kick-started Alan Burnfield’s music career. He’s now an accomplished woodwind player, teacher and instrument repairer who is preparing to conduct the Albany City Wind Ensemble concert on May 17 at the Living Water Anglican Church. The concert is Classical Winds II, a program he has put together for the 50-piece concert band. It’s his final concert as music director and he is happily handing over his chopstick-tipped baton to Albany’s Sandra Woonings. “It’s been exhausting, this is enough for me,” he said. “The problem with conducting is you’re at the mercy of who doesn’t turn up.” The program he has put together for Classical Winds II includes Jericho, by Bert Appermont, and other light classics by Dvorak, Gerschwin and Handel. It is a long-awaited follow-up to 2013’s Classical Winds I, in which Mr Burnfield played, and is a project he has wanted to pursue. “I wanted to conduct another concert with a classical feel,” he said. “So, I raided ACWE’s music library for old and new treasures, and found room for three of my own pieces, including a brand new one, written with ACWE in mind.” While he still plays in a recorder group, he enjoyed most success as a saxophonist, playing with the WA Symphony Orchestra. “It was a wonderful couple of times,” he said. “I was very, very nervous because I knew a lot of the people there and I knew how good they were.” He is called upon now most for his prowess with the clarinet and will be delivering a solo when the Albany Sinfonia celebrates its 30th anniversary concert on May 24. ACWE is renowned for its annual gala variety concerts, and its community-based events like cushion concerts and workshops for young people. The ensemble is home to musicians of all ages — all are wind instrumentalists bar their double-bass player — and performs jazz, big bands and light classics. The May 17 concert starts 2.30pm at the church on the Lower King Road. Tickets are available from https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1361597 with some available at the door.