About Us

Formed in 1989 in the Hills area of Perth, Western Australia, the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band has developed an excellent reputation in Perth and beyond for its commitment to nurture and develop professional musical skills in young musicians by offering exposure to and providing the opportunity to perform Big Band music of all styles and from all eras from an early age. The Kalamunda Youth Swing Band has delighted audiences for over 20 years with their winning combination of youth, talent, dedication and professionalism. The Kalamunda Youth Swing Band has an extensive repertoire developed over the past two decades, featuring the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, The Gershwins, Ed Wilson and Sammy Nestico as well as arrangements written especially for the band based on the music of artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, The Daly-Wilson Big Band and Vince Jones.

Youth Development

The Kalamunda Youth Swing Band organisation currently runs 3 separate bands:

  • Junior Band
    comprised of primary school-aged children
  • Intermediate Band
    comprised of high school-aged students
  • KYSB Big Band
    our most senior band ranging in age from 17 to 27 years

The KYSB Big Band is the flagship of the organisation and effectively, membership of this band is the reward for years of hard work and commitment to the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band. It is also quite often the last-stop before the bright lights of local, national and international fame as many of our most dedicated musicians have continued on to develop successful musical careers in their own right.

Performance Highlights

The Kalamunda Youth Swing Band has performed with such celebrities as Lionel Hampton (USA), Ellis Marsalis (USA), Don Burrows, Vince Jones, Tommy Emmanuel, Andrew Firth, and Marcia Hines. The Band has also been a much sought-after support act for George Benson, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Shirley Bassey, Julio Iglesias, Roberta Flack, K. D. Lang, Sting, Bryn Terfel and Yvonne Kenny, and Michael Crawford at the annual Leeuwin Estate Concerts in Margaret River, Western Australia.