RAN Band Western Australia
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Military Band 2022.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia is based at the Defence Music Centre, Irwin Barracks, Karrakatta, with a compliment of 24 part-time and two full-time musicians, under the direction of Bandmaster Chief Petty Officer Musician Brett Donovan.
The Band is administered by HMAS Stirling, Fleet Base West, providing musical support for not only the Fleet Base but the Royal Australian Navy, Defence community, and a variety of public events across Western Australia. Defence commitments regularly include supporting HMA Ship departures and returns from deployments, as well as a variety of ceremonial and commemorative events. This support is not just limited to HMAS Stirling but extends to number of other Defence establishments including RAAF Base Pearce. Ceremonial support often takes the form of a military marching band but can also take the form of vocal and bugle support to anthem/Last Post ceremonies, as well as drum corps support.
In addition to naval ceremonial support, the Band performs in a variety of ensembles including Big Band, Cover Band and Jazz Ensembles. Arrangers within the Navy Band allow the ensembles to keep its repertoire contemporary and often prepared for specific commitments.
RAN Band Western Australia consists of musicians from all walks of life and diverse back grounds, including a number of graduates from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Perth. This musical diversity allows the band to support a wide variety of events from commemorative services and community festivals to charity fundraising activities, always providing friendly and entertaining performances, with a diverse repertoire.
The band proudly supports Western Australia’s not-for-profit sector, performing regularly at charity fundraising events, including Walk for Prems and Variety and for Perth Children’s Hospital. It is also a strong supporter of community events like Margaret River Agricultural Show, Moondyne Festival and Fremantle Ports Maritime Day.
RAN Band Western Australia can be seen performing throughout regional Western Australia from Esperance to Exmouth, Busselton to Broome with regular Defence commemorative services including HMAS Nizam in Augusta and HMAS Sydney (II) in Geraldton.
Members of RAN Band Western Australia regularly support the Permanent Navy Force of the RAN Band, engaging in full-time contracts to support capability where required. This has seen Western Australian musicians working both domestically and as part of deployments at sea, including IPE and RIMPAC, as well as international deployments and representation in the Middle East, Gallipoli, South Pacific and New Zealand to name a few.
To keep up to date with RAN Band Western Australia, like and follow the RAN Band Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RoyalAustralianNavyBand.
Bandmaster, RAN Band Western Australia, Chief Petty Officer Brett Donovan.
Bandmaster, Chief Petty Officer Brett Donovan
Chief Petty Officer Brett Donovan was born in Tamworth, NSW. He enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy in October 2000 after completing a Bachelor of Education - Music and a Diploma of Music - Performance at the Newcastle University Conservatorium of Music. Brett spent 10 years performing and teaching around Newcastle and Sydney before joining the Royal Australian Navy after the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. On completion of Initial Training at the RAN Recruit School, the then Able Seaman Musician Donovan was posted to Royal Australian Navy Band Sydney. Brett was promote to Leading Seaman in 2003 and then to Petty Officer in 2007. He was posted to Royal Australian Navy Band Melbourne in 2009.
During his time in both Bands Brett travelled to Brunei, Tonga, Hong Kong and Gallipoli for Anzac Day commemorations. He was also deployed in HMAS Adelaide for Indo Pacific Endeavour in 2017.
RAN Band Western Australia Ensembles
For correct Acknowledgement of RAN Band ensembles and naming conventions, please refer to the
RAN Band Acknowledgement Guidelines.
To obtain official imagery and/or graphics of any of our ensembles, please contact navyband.pr@defence.gov.au.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Big Band 2022.
Big Band
The Big Band is the RAN Band Western Australia’s signature ensemble. Varying from 18 to 24 piece, this vibrant combination allows for significant musical diversity covering a wide range of genres and eras from Bublé to Beyoncé. This allows the band to cater for diverse audiences, providing musical support for the Royal Australian Navy, the wider Defence community and a wide range of public events across Western Australia.
The Big Band’s more traditional big band repertoire includes Duke Ellington, Glen Miller, Nat King Cole, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra, allowing one to dance along or simply close your eyes and revisit the big band era.
Including popular big band repertoire from Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jnr, the ensemble also performs big band arrangements of more contemporary Australian and international performers like Guy Sebastian, INXS, Amy Winehouse, Cyndi Lauper and Ed Sheeran.
The ensemble can be seen performing around Western Australia and regularly supports community events like Margaret River Agricultural Show, Moondyne Festival and Fremantle Ports Maritime Day.
The Big Band has even supported events like the Royal Australian Navy’s International Fleet Review in Sydney.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Cover Band 2021.
Cover Band
The RAN Band Western Australia Cover Band is a high energy 6 to 12 piece ensemble specialising in a wide range of popular music. A traditional pop/rock group with expandable horn section facilitates a diverse musical capability; critical for its role supporting the Royal Australian Navy, Defence community and public events across Western Australia.
Performing a mix of Australian and International artists, repertoire ranges from Guy Sebastian, Tones and I, Paul Kelly, INXS, Hunters & Collectors to Bruno Mars, Cee Lo Green, Pink, Aston Merrygold and Taylor Swift.
Along with contemporary pop, the band revisits some timeless favourites from Van Morrison, Dusty Springfield, Wilson Pickett, Tina Turner and Queen. Arrangers within the RAN Band Western Australia allow the ensemble to keep its repertoire contemporary, often prepared for specific gigs. The band also enjoy the musical twist of some fun Postmodern Jukebox arrangements.
The Cover Band can be seen performing around Western Australia, supporting Defence and public events alike. From entertaining Royal Australian Navy families as HMA Ships’ return from deployment, celebrating RAAF pilot graduations, performing as support for Western Australia’s not-for profit sector, to providing the half time entertainment for AFL fans at Optus Stadium, the Band has a set list for every occasion.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Jazz Ensemble 2022.
Jazz Ensemble
The RAN Band WA Jazz Ensemble is a versatile and sought-after group featuring some of the finest up-and-coming jazz musicians in Perth. The Jazz Ensemble core instrumentation comprises drums, bass, piano, trumpet, trombone and/or saxophone, while often with vocalist.
The group performs and provides atmosphere at a wide variety of ADF and public events, including dinners, balls and official functions, as well as corporate and charity events, conventions, community events and festivals.
The Jazz Ensemble is highly versatile in its utilisation, from soft background music, to upbeat, lively dancing swing. The ensemble performs a wide variety of jazz styles, including Gershwin and Benny Goodman style standards from the 30s and 40s, bebop era standards, hard bop style from the late 50s, as well as numerous Latin and Afro Cuban style tunes, straight funk from the 70s, 80s and beyond. Add our vocalists and the ensemble can play everything from Nancy Wilson and Ella Fitzgerald, to Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Brass Quintet 2022.
Brass Quintet
The RAN Band WA Brass Quintet is a versatile addition to the band’s repertoire, performing quality brass music for a variety of occasions.
The ensemble consists of five musicians, incorporating two trumpets, french horn, trombone and tuba. The brass timbre and sound projection makes it ideal for both outdoor and indoor performances where a full military band is not required.
The ensemble offers diverse musical styles; including light classical, hymns, marches, show tunes and popular music. This allows the quintet to support a wide variety of events, from ADF ceremonies, memorials, formal mess dinners to supporting HMA Ships, Veteran Associations and public events.
Join RAN Band Western Australia
Full details about joining the Band can be found on the Join Us page.
Royal Australian Navy Band Western Australia Big Band 2022.
