Historical information

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 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.

Physical description

1). Black and white photograph of two men dressed in suits and hats, standing at the bottom of a flight of stairs leading to a large public building. At the top of the stairs is a panelled door to the left and to the right is a man standing with his hands on his hips. The man on the left is Frank Wright and the man on his right is Mr Buckley. The place is the museum in Auckland, New Zealand.
2). Black and white photograph of three men wearing suits and hats, walking along the pavement. In the background city buildings can be seen. The man on the left is Frank Wright and the place is Christchurch, New Zealand.

Inscriptions & markings

1). Written in pencil on back - Frank Wright, Mr Buckley, Auckland (N.Z.) Museum, Feb 1933
2). Stamped on back - The Filmograph Co. (N.Z.), Majestic Theatre Buildings, Christchurch.
(The paper has been cut in half, so half the written information is lost) Written in pencil of back - right, adjudicator, secretary N.Z.B.B.ch., Band Contest, 1933