Army bugler will play Last Post for millions around the world

ANDREW Barnett is down to play the Last Post at Anzac Cove in front of royalty, world leaders, 10,500 pilgrims and hundreds of millions of TV viewers. So is he feeling the pressure?

ANZAC Dawn Service Bugler

HIS haunting solo will echo around the globe to hundreds of millions from the sacred ground of Anzac Cove next week, but Andrew Barnett is remarkably free of nerves.

The Army Band Corporal has been given the enormous privilege of playing the evocative tune at our most important shrine on the nation’s pivotal anniversary — the Anzac centenary.

Corporal Barnett, a 20-year army veteran, is remarkably relaxed about the responsibility that rests on his chops. Any sour note will echo off the sandy shore of Anzac Cove and the craggy peaks of the Galliploi Peninsula and reverberate around the globe.

He has been playing the trumpet since he was seven-years-old, courtesy of his late father John, who played in the brass band in the 1980s in suburban Adelaide. His mother Joy is also a pianist and music teacher.

“My first musical memory is an Anzac Day ceremony in Adelaide,” Corporal Barnett said.

After studying music through high school and at Adelaide University, he realised that making a living as a musician in Australia was not easy.

“I had mates in the army band so decided to give it a go,” he said.

His first gig was with the Reserves, and in 2003, he joined the full-time Army and the Band Corps.

He is posted to the Royal Military College Band in Canberra, and is joining musicians from army bands around the nation in the 20-piece composite orchestra formed for the Anzac Centenary under the watchful eye of conductor and Commanding Officer of Army Bands, Lieutenant Colonel Andrea McMahon.

The expectation for military trumpeters is that they will take up the bugle and memorise the long list of historical military bugle calls including the iconic Last Post, Roust and Reveille.

Corporal Barnett has never been to Gallipoli, but has played some big gigs in the past, including Villiers Brettoneux in France at the 90th anniversary of the battle.

“That was amazing and given the staggering losses suffered, there it was an honour to play there,” he said.

“I also played at the Arc de Triomphe and looking down the Champs Elysse I just thought, ‘Wow I am in Paris’.”

He expects the Gallipoli event to surpass everything else and he knows that his mum and his partner Gabi will be glued to the TV and very proud of him.

“I feel very fortunate and honoured.”

His biggest preoccupation after a full night of entertaining 10,500 cold and tired pilgrims will be keeping his mouthpiece in his pocket and the bugle warm.

“I will go out with a positive frame of mind and hope that the emotion of the music comes through to those listening,” he said.

For Lieutenant Colonel McMahon, the centenary event is the culmination of a 30-year career in the army band.

The former flute player was at the 75th anniversary of the landings with some surviving veterans.

“To see the old Turkish and Anzac veterans mixing was wonderful,” she said.

Sadly, they have all gone now, but Colonel McMahon knows that the centenary service will be extraordinarily moving.

The band will rehearse hard for several days prior to arriving at the Peninsula late on the 24th for an all-night vigil belting out about 30 tunes in 30 minute brackets during the night to keep the throng entertained before the main event at dawn. They will be joined by the Gallipoli choir from Brisbane for the most unique concert in army band history.

“I doubt that anybody will sleep that night,” she said.

Originally published as Army bugler will play Last Post for millions around the world