Historical information

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 Australia.

Physical description

.1) black and white photograph of six men dressed in formal attire - one standing beside a double bass, one holding a violin, one holding a trumpet, one seated in front of a piano, one holding a clarinet, and one standing behind a xylophone. They are situated in the Ballarat Town Hall's A Hall.
Frank Wright (cornet), Roy Ogilvey (piano), E.L. Bentley (violin), C. Mills (clarionet), William Morris (Bass), T. McManamny (drums).


.2) sepia photograph of six men dressed in formal attire - one standing beside a double bass, one holding a violin, one holding a trumpet, one seated in front of a piano, one holding a clarinet, and one standing behind a xylophone. They are situated in the Ballarat Town Hall's A Hall.
.3) sepia photograph of seven men dressed in formal attire - one holding a flute, two holding cornets, one holding a violin, one seated in front of a piano, one holding a clarinet and one holding drum sticks. They are situated in front of a backdrop of a large painting and curtains at the Coliseum, Ballarat.
.4) black and white photograph of six men dressed in formal attire - one is steated holding a clarinet, with two banjos and other clarinets on the floor in front, another is seated holding a violin. Both have saxophones on their knees. Another man is standing holding a trombone, one is seated in front of a piano, one is holding a cornet, and one is standing behind a xylophone with drum kit beside. They are situated in the Ballarat Town Hall's A Hall.

Inscriptions & markings

.1) on back - Richards & Co, Photo, Ballarat, Post Card, Kodak Australia; handwritten - "Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra", Left to Right - W. Morris Bass, E. Bentley Violin, Frank Wright Trumpet - MD, Roy Ogilvie Piano, C. Mills Clarinet, T. McMannamy Drums, Taken City Hall Nov 25th 1926
.2) on front - City Hall-Ballarat,1926
.3) on front - Coliseum-Ballarat, October 1925, on back - Richards & Co, Photo, Ballarat
.4) on back - Richards & Co., Photographers, Ballarat, Proofs not returned charged for; handwritten - Ballarat Town Hall, probably Coliseum Orchestra?