Albury’s Raphael Ennab is enjoying his weekend busking sessions which have been organised through AlburyCity’s new Bring the Beats to Albury Streets busking initiative. Photo: Supplied.
Albury saxophonist Raphael Ennab is getting quite used to playing in front of a crowd.
In fact, the 11-year-old is becoming so seasoned he says he’s ready to form a band.
The Murray Conservatorium scholarship student can be found on weekends busking in various locations along Dean Street and is one of many taking advantage of council’s recent Bring the Beat to Albury Streets initiative.
Aimed at enhancing the vibrancy of urban spaces and improving the walkability of the city’s streets, the program means buskers can apply for exclusive permits to perform in multiple preapproved locations in the local government area.
“It’s really, really good,” said the young alto sax player, whose horn blowing hero is Italian sensation and You Tube star Daniele Vitale, well known for his public busking performances.
“Sometimes there are hundreds of people but I’m getting used to it.
“One day I made $95. I would have made $100 but I gave $5 away.”
The busking performances have allowed Raphael to save towards buying a saxophone speaker that clips onto the bell, and an amplifier.
He said it was his mum who introduced him to the instrument two years ago.
“She bought it when she was a bit younger and it was just sitting on the top shelf and I was always asking to play it,” he said. “Then she thought she’d sign me up for lessons.”
He practises twice a week at the Murray Conservatorium, recently performed at Albury City’s Easter Egg Hunt at the botanic gardens and staged a special event at his school (St Patrick’s Parish School Albury) with several of his other musical mates.
He loves playing the Pink Panther and Tequila soundtracks, Eye of the Tiger and anything to do with Michael Jackson but admits some songs can take their toll.
“In a few songs when I have to blow into the sax differently a lot, my jaw starts hurting and my lips can go numb. Sometimes I get blisters too. That’s normal for saxophone players though,” he said.
Raphael (left) and his bandmates from the junior jam club at the Murray Conservatorium, Lukas, Micah, Samuel and Darcy. Photo: Supplied.
It’s no deterrent for the talented saxophonist who revealed he was already in a band.
“There are five of us and Mum has just made up a Facebook page for us called The Jam Sesh.”
Parents Linda and Issa said they were not sure where his musical talent stemmed from as neither were musicians themselves.
“Yes, it was my sax but let’s not get into that,” Linda said. “My level was more Three Blind Mice played very poorly but Raphael would listen to songs and miraculously start playing the tunes.
“Now if he’s got a gig and has to practise there’s no question about it, he’ll go and do it, there’s no ifs or buts because he loves it so much.”
AlburyCity’s team leader of economic development Jayne Maloney said there had been a great take-up of applications since Bring the Beats was launched in February.
“The standard busking conditions still apply but we are streamlining the process and making it more accessible,” she said.
While busking was permitted with approval from council for many years, applicants were required to seek permission from the owner of a business or businesses if the activity was located in their vicinity.
Now the program allows buskers to obtain an exclusive permit, granting the flexibility to perform at designated sites which have been identified as being high-traffic areas that will deliver a larger volume of foot traffic.
“We are encouraging any type of performance and not just musical instruments,” said Jayne.
“Traditionally we’ve seen singing and guitar but the other element to this program is to not only increase vibrancy and the atmosphere in the areas but it’s also to give an opportunity for other performing artists to be seen and heard.
“We are hoping to add a few more places if there’s demand. Once the other businesses see the success of this, we are hoping there’ll be others that come on board so that we can add to the preapproved locations.”
The current locations include:
- Albury Riverside Precinct
- QEII Square (Dean Street side)
- QEII Square (Concourse)
- Priceline Pharmacy
- Dean Street out the front of City Walk
- Murray Conservatorium
- Lighting Bonanza
- Regent Cinema
- Places to Love Lavington, Griffith Road
You can visit the AlburyCity website to find out more and apply for a permit.
