John Saunders

John Saunders was born into a musical family, being given Piano instruction from his father Jack, from about age 3. John saw the light at about age 9 and started playing Brass, also taught by his father.

John found himself most comfortable behind a Euphonium, being named NSW Euphonium Champion 8 times and was National Champion in 1986 and 1988. He was also winner of the prestigious Ern Keller Competition, for Australian and New Zealand brass players in 1998. John gained his A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A on Euphonium in the late 1990’s.

John became a full-time member of the NSW Police Band in 1988. The NSW Police Band is a 30 piece professional Concert Band based in Sydney. He was privileged to be named Director of Music of the band in 2005, a position he holds to this day.

On Euphonium and Baritone John has been a member of every Australia Brass and National Australia Brass course since 1995.

John was a founder member of the Warringah Concert Brass, formed by his father Jack, in 1979, becoming Musical Director in 1999. This position gives John a chance to mentor many amateur musicians, of all standards, a responsibility he finds very important and rewarding.

John maintains his brass teaching across a wide range of ages and abilities. He has also recently expanded his activities into the world of adjudicating, having adjudicated at the Western Australian State Band and Solo Championships and The City of Sydney Eisteddfod Brass Solo and School Band sections.

Jason Luostarinen

Australian Bass Trombonist Jason Luostarinen began his studies in 1999. He studied his Bachelor of Music and Graduate Diploma of Music Studies (Performance) at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 2004 under the tuition of Tom Coyle. Upon completion, Jason moved to the Netherlands to study under Bass Trombonist of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Ben van Dijk. Whilst in Europe, Jason attended a number of Master Classes and festivals with Michel Becquet, Jorgen van Rijen, Doug Yeo, Phil Teele, Wycliffe Gordon and Brandt Attema just to name a few. Jason has performed with orchestras such as the RTE Concert Orchestra and Big Band (Dublin), Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra along with artist like Tim Minchin, James Morrison, Katie Noonan, The Whitlams and Evanescence. He has also performed in a number of Musical Theatre productions throughout Europe and Australia. Upon his return to Australia, Jason continued to perform with orchestras and chamber ensembles and was appointed as the Bass Trombonist of the NSW Police Band for many years. This broad range of work has given Jason the opportunity to gain a wide range of musically diverse experiences across many genres.