Brass Factory and Auxiliary Band playing together.

The Brass Factory 2019 has seen so much development it became time to have a play out with the Auxiliary Band. Thanks to Apri for these photos. Having both bands together create an awesome harmony and Te Reo said she couldn't tell who was from Brass Factory or who was from Auxiliary. It's great to see Brass Factory players making such progress - most of these players have been in Brass Factory for 1-2 years.

Brass Factory Front Row: Quinn, Leo, Stevie, Lizzie and Amelia, back row Tracey helping Maata and Greg

Tenor Horns: Samantha, Sharon, Sonya

Euphoniums and Baritones: Roanna, Mele, Julie and James, Trombones Isaac and Anessa

Tenor Horns, Euphs and Baris

Troms Anessa an Isaac

Brass Factory and Auxiliary led by TeReo Hughes

Malcolm (Brass Factory conductor) and Tracey (Brass Factory organiser) playing in the back row helping Brass Factory players with the Auxiliary tunes.

Horns and Basses

Malcolm running the band through their paces.

Robert and Isaac

Anessa glad to be playing alongside Alex and Josh in the trombone section.

Let's just say, "That's a lot of troms"

Power and the Passion - Hamilton City Brass Senior Band performance

On the 20th of October 2019 Hamilton City Brass A Grade band put on a performance to remember. Led by the inspirational Musical Director Glenn Richards, the band wowed the audience with a variety of entertaining pieces including:

• Singalong tunes from popular Disney Films such as "A Friend like me" from Aladdin, and "Let it Go" (arranged by Philip Harper) from the Frozen movie. 

• Some toe tapping dancers on the big screen frolicked while the band played "Sing Sing Sing." 

• The Hamilton City Auxiliary Band's MD Te Reo Hughes played a beautiful rendition of "A Time for Peace" by Peter Graham.

• A solo by Todd Smith on Soprano gave an outstanding performance of Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney, (arrangement by Ray Farr)

• A beautiful duet played by Emma Redpath and Mason Elliott of I'll Not Turn Back by Ivor Bosnia. 

• A solo performance by Ross McAdam was delightful as he played Harlequin by Phillip Sparke.

• John Williams Epic Themes by Steve Sykes this was written as a tribute to John Williams (the composer of many of Stephen Spielberg's films)

• The relaxing Lux Arumque by Eric Whitacre 
• Vitae Aeternum by Paul Lovette Cooper 
• Simoraine by Clive Barraclough
• Harlequine by Phillip Sparke
• Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovic (arranged by Peter Kitson)
• A Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter (arranged by Stephen Tige).

New Zealand Secondary Schools Brass Band September 2019

As was announced earlier Walter and Leighton were selected for the NZSSBB - and in September they packed their bags during the school holidays and traveled by bus with Nicole Schweizer from Matamata Brass to have a week of their life in New Plymouth. Walter is year 9 at Hamilton's Fraser High School, Leighton Year 11 at Morrinsville College and Nicole attends Matamata College.

The NZSSBB practiced most days from 9am-9pm with a few activities in the middle to break it up a bit and allowed students to get to know each other because representatives came from the top of the north to the bottom of the south. What a great opportunity to be led by Leigh Martin from the New Zealand Army Band, and have expert coaching from Army band players and locals from New Plymouth Brass

For those with Facebook you may be able to click on this link to watch the video of the NZSSBB Whanganui performance.

Walter, Nicole, Leighton 

Practicing with Leigh Martin (MD) (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Tuba sectional (photo supplied by NZSSBB)

The first performance at Whanganui (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

A family friend supplied this pic of Memorie taking a photo of Leighton :)

Memorie (MD of Matamata Brass) very proud of Walter

Walter getting ready for the first tune

The Band after their final performance

The band (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Walter playing in Repiano Piano 

The Tuba Section - middle in green is Nick from the NZ Army Band, he got the team in top notch order (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Walter in rehearsals (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Leighton in rehearsals (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Walter in rehearsals (Photo supplied by NZSSBB)

Photo supplied by NZSSBB (Walter playing Repiano - middle row third person in line)

WBOP players in the NZSSBB: Walter, Leighton, Leo, Courtney, Aria, Nicole (photo shared by WBOP Brass Band Association)  

Photo supplied by NZSSBB

Photo supplied by NZSSBB