Four items about Italian musicians from Viggiano. Handwritten correspondence by Frank Delmonaco dated 24/02/2005, sent to Glen Eira Historical Society, giving information of former Italian musicians, including Felice Gagliardi (who played at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Caulfield) who travelled the country. Photocopied article from Sunday Telegraph, dated 31/08/1969; gives Vigano musicians’ history and photo; plus enlargement of same photo. Photocopied photo of group un-named but possibly same as above. Photocopy of Statutory Declaration, by Felice Gagliardi (dated 28/03/19?) giving personal and employment details plus absences from Australia. Occupation is musician and employer is Griffiths and West of Crystal Palace Theatre, Caulfield.gagliardi felice, crystal palace theatre, theatres, caulfield, musicians, musical ensembles, ‘labbs string band’, delmonaco frank, harps, grosjean frederick, griffiths and west

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born in 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. He was the youngest of eleven children. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was appointed in 1934 as the Musical Director of the London County Council (the GLC or Greater London Council), where he organized many amazing concerts in most of the 150 parks, in and around the London district. He was also responsible for some of London’s major concerts at Kenwood, the Crystal Palace and Holland Park. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and Conducting and was a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. Frank was awarded an M.B.E. in 1967 and he died in November 1970. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.A yellow, red and white three fold brochure printed in black, advertising the Besson brand brass band instruments, sold by A P Sykes of Melbourne. On the front cover are photographs of two musicians who a giving their approval for these instruments. One is Frank Wright and the other is William S. May.frank wright, brass band, musical instruments, william s may, besson, a p sykes