Frank Wright as a 19 year oldPostcard photo signed on lower right corner, Photo of Frank Wright holding a cornet.Frank Wright 2/8/1920 signed on lower right corner, and on back "Frank Wright 2nd August 1920 Aged 19 years "frank wright, cornet. brass band. 1920, trumpet

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and 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 later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. 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 AustraliaA black and white photograph of a cornet player depicted in uniform. He wears a medal and holds a cornet. The person depicted is Frank Wright who was the winner of the Champion Cornet Solo at the Ballarat CompetionsPersonal marking "Truly Yours Frank Wright 1/1/1920". Enscription - Ballarat Competitions, 1919, Champion Cornet solo-F.Wright, 1st, Besson"New Creation" Cornetcornet player, frank wright, ballarat competitions, south street competitions

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. 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 later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. 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.Black and white photograph postcard of a brass band marching and playing their instruments. The band is the City of Ballarat "A" Grade Band and the place is City Oval Ballarat. The occasion is the 1920 South Street Competition. The conductor is Percy Cole, Solo Cornet is Frank Wright, the Solo Trombone is Jack Shakles, the Solo Euphonium is Lary Sheehan, the Soprano is Harry Black and the Solo Horn is Lewis Thomas.Written in pen on the back - Information about who, what and where the band were playing. Also included were the pieces played.frank wright, percy cole, jack shakles, lary sheehan, harry black, lewis thomas, city of ballarat a grade band, brass bands, cornet

Brass band instrumental music competitions were enthusiastically followed in Australia in the early twentieth century. Ballarat was a leading centre for these musical competitions and Michael Taffe played cornet and flugelhorn with several local brass bands. He was Australian Junior Cornet solo Champion in 1920 and won the open section of the instrumentals at the VRI competitions held in the ballroom at Flinders Street Station in 1924. michael taffe, victorian railways institute, cornet solo, flinders street station ballroom