Meet Our Musical Director – Laurie Green

Laurie Green’s musical journey began in the brass band scene of Western Sydney – sometime last century, as he likes to say. He got his start as a junior player, but it wasn’t long before he was thrown into the deep end, earning a spot in the cornet section of the renowned St Marys Band, one of Sydney’s top A-grade contesting ensembles at the time.

From there, Laurie’s musical life took off. He performed with multiple Western Sydney bands on the national competition circuit, and became a familiar face in pit orchestras, brass ensembles, community orchestras, and musical groups of every shape and size.

In 1985, Laurie made his escape to the Northern Rivers – and quickly embedded himself in the local music scene. He took up the baton for the then Northern Rivers Concert Band (now the Lismore City Concert Band), and has been championing community music ever since.

Laurie brings an extraordinary breadth of experience to the Ballina Shire Concert Band, having played or conducted in everything from symphony and concert bands to brass quintets, German Oompah bands, big bands, funk, soul, and neo-swing groups.

Today, Laurie divides his musical time between performing with the Lismore Symphony Orchestra and leading the Ballina Shire Concert Band – always on the lookout for new arrangements, new challenges, and new ways to bring musicians together.