Band Play out - 15 September play out.

Well, I haven't complained that there has been much to write about!! Covid19 has certainly mucked up our scheduled year. I don't know about you, but I had everything marked out on our yearly calendar - great hopes and expectations for band play outs, regional and national contests... Well, I filled those in January... And as each month passed with increased cases of people with Covid19, and then a lockdown unheralded before New Zealand and the world came to a standstill.  Online playing thanks to Malcolm Barr and Te Reo inspiring people to have a go at online recordings in groups and individually. Fortunately I live in a family of four and we all play enthusiastically and keep each other entertained.  Lockdown has not been so easy for students and families with children at home.  

Alas, we managed a play out at Hamilton Gardens with the Senior Band in February... and our second was a play out to friends and family held on the 15th of September. Thanks to Richard Lummus for recording our pieces which we can re-watch here in these links:

1953 by NZ composer: Fraser Bremner

Bass in the Ballroom featuring soloist Leighton Ginever

Laudate Dominum

Pirates of the Carribbean

We gratefully had Mason Elliot from Hamilton City Brass (Senior Band) observe our performance and adjudicate us as would have happened at contest. Unfortunately Auckland had a second lockdown and with that we said goodbye to contesting up there. 

Coming up... We have a play out coming soon... November 7 at Morrinsville Market Day & the Morrinsville Santa Parade 12 November 2020. 

The band Prize Giving is on November 7, who will be section of the year? Most improve and highest attendance for the year? The theme: Around the World... 

At the start of the year you were an uninvited guest to our shores... Here's hoping New Zealand can flick Coronavirus in the ear and say goodbye and good riddance. 

New Zealand Secondary School Brass Band 2020 - North Island Band

It seems an age ago since students from around the North Island spent four days together at the NZSSBB camp between Turangi and Taupo in the second week of the school holidays.  Hamilton Auxiliary Brass Band was well and truly represented by Te Reo Hughes (Assistant Musical Director), Walter Hughes (Baritone) and Leighton Ginever (Eb Bass and Composer).

Te Reo 

                                Walter - Fraser High                   Leighton - Morrinsville College

The NZSSBB - North Island band had a full band with students from schools far ranging as Warkworth in the far north to Wellington. Walter and Leighton were returnees after representing their schools last year. Walter has changed from repiano to Baritone and Leighton stayed with his Eb Bass. One of the band members, Te Kiri King (Hawera High), transitioned from Eb Bass (2019) to a Soprano Cornet (2020) showing that anything is possible once students get into the NZSSBB. 

Te Reo could be considered a returnee as she attended one of the first NZSSBB camps. During her introduction to the audience (prior to playing the Feather Theme from the Forrest Gump film) she commented that banding is a great way of life and recommended that students take up the many opportunities on offer. She said she still is friends with people she met on band camp including her Fiancé, Walter (also from Hamilton City Brass). She also thought it was pretty special to have her son Walter in the current NZSSBB.  A highlight was working under the directorship of Andrew Snell and learning a few more tricks of the trade (which she will no doubt try out in her role as Musical Director of Hamilton City Auxiliary Brass).

Walter said band highlights included catching up with old friends and making new ones on camp. He found it especially inspiring to listen to Harmen Vanhoorne and accompany him along with the band. Opportunities like this are an absolute privilege and another reason why students should try and get into the NZSSBB. (When prompted to share a funny moment Walter insisted some really funny things happened but what goes on tour stays on tour ha ha!!)

For Leighton the highlight came when his piece "Morrinsville March" got played by the band.  His second piece "Hourglass: Sands of Time" was played during practice sessions but was not played at the concert due to time constraints on the day. He said it was magical to hear his tunes come to life.  Another highlight was when he was awarded "Outstanding Bandsperson" for the band, Leighton said it was a nice surprise. He also enjoyed making new friends on camp.

Morrinsville March (YouTube link, thanks to Richard Lummus)

Full Performance (for those with Facebook)

Pieces played included*: Caravan, Climb Every Mountain, Concerto for Trumpet, Feather Theme, Laudate Dominum, Morrinsville March, Nearer My God to Thee, the Irish Blessing, Pastime with Good Compnay and the Carnival of Venice.

Students were directed by MD Andrew Snell was originally from England and has been involved in brass banding since the age of 10. He has a BA (honours) in Band Musicianship and has experience playing Bass Trombone with the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band (think of the film Brassed Off). He currently lives in Christchurch NZ*.

The guest soloist was Harmen Vanhoorne who is a world renowned professional cornet player and Besson Artist. He has a Bachelors and Masters Degrees in music performance, and in 2011 was granted the title of International Soloist of the year*.  Harmen's professionalism was shown throughout his performances accompanied by the NZSSBB. His rendition of Carnival of Venice and Concerto for Trumpet left the audience mesmerised.

Thanks to John Sutherland for being the Band Manager at the NZSSBB North Island Camp. Thank you to Jo Doyle for organising everything behind the scenes - Jo lives near Timaru and was the Band Manager for the NZSSBB South Island camp.

 

* Full Notes on the official programme.