Jonah hits right notes

Jonah Golds might be the youngest member of the Bunbury City Band, but he has shown he is an accomplished performer in his own right.

The 11-year-old started playing trumpet early last year but has made rapid progress since then, taking home four trophies at last month’s Queen’s Cup competition.

His music teacher and Bunbury City Band secretary Geoff Ogden described him as a mature performer who was “very dedicated”.

“He is right into playing trumpets and can’t get enough of it, ” Mr Ogden said.

“He has developed a very mature style about his playing and is academically also very talented. I’m looking forward to teaching him over the next few years.”

The Bunbury Primary School student plays both trumpet and piano and was competing in his first Queen’s Cup after also taking part in this year’s Eisteddfod.

He won the Queen’s Cup 11-and-under brass solo and 13-and-under brass duo or trio categories plus both the 12-and-under and 13-and-under brass solo with recorded accompaniment categories.

Jonah said the Education Department’s specialist instrumental music program played a big part in him learning the instruments and he also believed his piano experience made it easier to learn the trumpet.

“It did help because playing the piano meant I didn’t have to re-learn how to read music, ” Jonah said.

“Something very important is the instrumental program as that is what got me the opportunity to play trumpet and for so many others as well.

“I have an ambition to do a lot of things but it would be nice to play in an orchestra.”