Historical information

Alex Wright was the brother ofFrank Wright who was a renown resident of Smeaton. 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 a man and a woman standing in front of a picket fence, with a large tree in the background. The man is wearing a suit and is Frank Wright. The woman is wearing a long dark skirt and long sleeved blouse with a brooch at the neckline. She is his mother Sarah Wright. The man is wearing a suit and is Sarah's son Alex. The picket fence surrounds "Laura Villa".
.2) Glass plate for this photograph

Inscriptions & markings

Printed on the back - Post Card, Kodak Australia