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 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 (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 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).Typed letter on National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain letterhead, acknowledging the receipt of a letter and newspaper clippings from Frank Wright regarding band concerts at Royal Albert Hall.
2). Newspaper clipping from the Sun Telegraph on 2/7/1967 about 'Park Music'
3). Newspaper clipping from the Sunday Times on 14/5/1967 entitled 'The Lew Grade of the GLC'
Inscriptions & markings
1). Typed Letter and signature
2). Written in pen on the front - Sun Telegraph 2.7.67
3). Written in pen on the front - Sunday Times 14 May 67
