Like the Junior Brass Bands, the Big Bands of Box Hill City Band Inc. were started by Alwaynne Strenz. These bands however, were intended to stay together and improve as a band, rather than individual players moving up to a more senior band.
In 2010, two of our big bands (WASABI and Midori) merged to form the current WASABI Big Band.
The band is made up of both music students and non-music students, all of whom have finished school. Although it was originally made up of players from Whitehorse, the current line-up comes from a wider area.
The band plays at the annual Christmas concert and the VBL State Stage Band Championships, as well as having a number of other performances each year.
In 2005 it recorded its own CD, entitled
"Hot.".
The conductor of WASABI Big Band is Fenella Sutherland.
The Plan B Big Band has been running since 2004, when it started as Junior WASABI. Most of the members of the band are at secondary school, all of whom are avid musicians.
The conductor of Plan B is David Farrell.
Plan B rehearses every Thursday evening during the school term.