National Secondary Schools' Brass Band

National Secondary Schools' Brass Band 2024

This year we were represented by Anessa Ginever and Lizzie Barr (both were selected while playing for Hamilton Auxiliary and then moved up to Hamilton City Brass Senior Band). Anessa played Principal Trombone and Lizzie 2nd Cornet in the NSSBB Band. This is the second time the girls have represented in this prestigious brass band. Who knows what the future will bring? Sandra Ginever was also attending this course as the NSSBB Course Manager. This was Sandra's final year as band manager (after four years of service to the band). Also, the band played a couple of pieces by HCB composer, Leighton Ginever. Te Reo Genefaas (HCB musician) also had a hand in this year's course designing this year's graphic designs. 

About the NSSBB (in brief for our younger Auxiliary Band members)... You have to be attending a high school (or similar i.e. correspondence school) in New Zealand. It is not essential to be playing in a band, but you do have to meet a certain performance criteria and prepare an audition video. Applications usually open up in February/March with application date in May/June... There are presently two brass bands (NSSBB & NSSBB Development Band) so many students get to experience this opportunity. The course takes place in September/October school holidays. The course usually has many hours of rehearsals, social activities and tutorials with expert tutors. The Musical Directors are great... there is so much to learn on the course. The culmination of the course is a concert performance with each band playing separately as well as together (one LARGE band!!). The course usually runs in the October School Holidays for 4-5 days. This year there were  82 students from Auckland to Invercargill. 

If you are interested in this opportunity talk with Lizzie and Anessa or Sandra... also,  former band members include: James (in Auxiliary), Walter (HCB) and Leighton (HCB).

Links to selected performances:

Ka Waiata Ki A Maria (NSSBB with Development Band & staff choir)

Flight  Development Band

You Can't Stop the Beat Development Band

Hourglass: Sands of Time  (NSSBB in rehearsal)

Telephone (Combined Band)

Locked out of Heaven  (Combined Band)

  

WaiBOP representatives: Lizzie, Anessa and Harper (from Tauranga)

All 82 students plus band staff 

Lizzie in with the cornets sections (both bands)

Another view of the full band

WaiBop representatives: Lizzie, Anessa, Sandra & Harper

2023 in review

Wow 2023 was incredible: Sorry for delays...  Here is a wrap up of our 2023 year in approximate chronological.

JANUARY

• Walter participated in the Northern Brass Youth Day with Sir Bob Childs
• NEW GIG PACKS MADE!!

MARCH

• Morrinsville Auxiliary performed at the A&P Show

• Morrinsville Market Day

APRIL

• 25 April - Anzac Day

• Concert with Cambridge Brass Band

MAY

• Waibop Brass Youth Day with Vickie van Uden

• Matamata Festival Silver

Links:

Blame it on the Boogie 

I will follow him

Fantasy for Trombone

MAY/JUNE

Video conferences with Jack Bewley (composer), Hayden Cullen (former NZAB) cornet player, Fraser Bremner (Percussionist & composer from New Plymouth) and our very own Todd Smith (Hamilton City Brass Band)

JULY NATIONAL CONTEST 

• Walter Hughes 1st U19 Euphonium & highly commended at Junior Champion of Champions
• Anessa 1st U15 'other instruments' (everything except trumpet/cornet
• Lizzie 6th U15 Cornet
• Walter and Hana played in Matamata Brass placed 2nd in C Grade
• Walter, Leighton,  Quentin and Hana played in Hamilton City Brass placed 4th in A Grade

SEPTEMBER - REGIONAL CONTEST  

• Hamilton Auxiliary Champion D Grade Band
• Hamilton Auxiliary Brass Ensemble 1st in D Grade - Leighton conducted
• Trombone Quartet 3rd (Sandra, Anessa, Liam and Vonya)
• U16 Air vari Anessa 1st, 
• U16 Slow Melody Anessa 1st
• Open Air vari Sandra 12th = and Slow Melody Sandra 17th

Links:

Fantasy for Trombone - Anessa soloist

OCTOBER - NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS' BRASS BAND

• NSSBB Principal Euphonium: Walter
• NSSBB Principal Trombone: Anessa
• NSSBB 3rd Cornet: Lizzie
• NSSBB Development Band: Bass Trombone: Vonya
• NSSBB Development Band: 2nd Tenor Horn: James
• Manager Sandra
• NYBB Tutors: Charlie (HCB) and Leighton (HCB)

Links:

Full Video:  (must be on facebook to see)

Swing Kings - Leighton Ginever

Salsa Pa'Gozar - Philip Harper 

NOVEMBER - ANNUAL AWARDS

• Best Attendance: George Jennings
• Auxiliary Most Improved: Anessa 
• Section of the Year: Trombones (Anessa, Robert, Sandra, Liam, Lynn, Vonya)
• Bands Person of the Year: Lynn

• STAR CROSSED "the story of Romeo and Juliet" Lizzie and Anessa played with Hamilton City Brass.
• 10 Pin Bowling - Well done Geoff!! Champion!! & Farewell to Hana (exchange student going back to Japan)

DECEMBER

• Morrinsville Christmas Parade - yes we marched!!

Link: 

Second Link

• HCB Annual Christmas Carols fundraising

• Hamilton Auxiliary Play out at Forestlake Rest Home

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  Hamilton Auxiliary play outs in the shopping malls

As you can tell 2023 was a massive year... thanks so much to Kaperiera Hughes, our MD and Amanda our Manager.