An American in Paris - George Gershwin - IWCB

IWCB plays An American in Paris by George Gershwin (arranged by Jerry Brubaker).

Gershwin’s tone poem dedicated to the French capital is fast-paced and moves through many moods — but returns to a few recurring themes throughout the work, evoking the feeling of walking around an unfamiliar city and taking in new sights at each turn... with the occasional misstep into traffic. A slow American Blues theme hints at homesickness.

The piece was inspired by the few months George Gershwin and his lyricist brother Ira spent in Paris, in 1928. The brothers were two of many expatriate composers, painters and writers living in the cultural hub at the time. George had hoped to study with Parisian luminaries Nadia Boulanger or Maurice Ravel, but both declined, thinking it better that Gershwin develop his own jazz-inspired composition style.


Our Conductor - Joshua McNulty:

Joshua McNulty is a seasoned conductor, composer, and educator in the Australian music community. As the founder and Musical Director of The FilmHarmonia Orchestra and the Musical Director of the Inner West Community Band, he has significantly fostered musical excellence. He has also led ensembles like the Macquarie University Symphony Orchestra, the Canaria Scoring Orchestra, the Wellington Players, and the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra.

An accomplished reed player now exploring brass instruments, Joshua brings versatility to his music-making. He directs numerous school bands across Sydney and tutors aspiring musicians. His passion for narrative-driven music is evident in his compositions, premiered by both The FilmHarmonia Orchestra and the Inner West Community Band.

A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium under Dr. John Lynch and Dr. Anthony Clarke, Joshua continues to advance the Australian wind band community through his leadership and contributions.

Our Band:
Flute
Milia Cavallaro*
Lauren Ziegler
Rebecca Thomas
Jasmine Gilligan
Anna Ward

Piccolo
Rebecca Thomas

Oboe
Greg Knight
Hannah Kovilpillai

Bassoon
Jaslyn Nash
Sam Herriman

Percussion
Andrea Leong*
Ryan Mestric*
Kate Wilson

Clarinet
Simon Parker
Briony Bowman*
Danielle Keogh
Helene Pino
Amanda Sapienza
Daniela Bantle
Harry He
Sandra Mackay
Ashleigh Finn
Nathalie King
Hisashi Nakahara
Amelie Nemes

Bass Clarinet
Richard Price
Eloise Kershler

Alto Saxophone
Adele Sutton
Eliza Harvey
Jordon Blanket
Roxanne Macara
Emma Korell

Tenor Saxophone
Mick Elderfield
Eamon Byrne

Trumpet
Adam Griffiths*
Micah Napier
Rachael Hughes
Henry Egan
Kate Wilson
Danika Pink

French Horn
Adrian Barnes
Jennifer Gunn
Michael Neil

Trombone
Conor Bratty
Emma Dortins
Angus Blake
Harry Goldman
Vicki Sifniotis

Euphonium
David Crawford

Tuba
Sebastian Djayasukmana
Dominic Lukin
Brendon Lukin

Piano
Helene Pino

Conductor:
Joshua McNulty