Sunday, November 3, 2019

Waikato A & P Show

The Hamilton City Auxiliary Band enjoyed playing in hot conditions at the Waikato Winter Show at Claudelands Event Centre.  We played mostly gig pack tunes which the band is starting to know really well: Funk It Up, James Bond, Instant Concert, Bohemian Rhapsody, Can't Take My Eyes off of you, Soul Bossa Nova.

This play out was a special introduction for Samantha, Quinn and Stevie who got to perform for the first time with the Auxiliary Band.

WARMING UP

Dana brought her own stand
Yes this Tuba is working Anessa and Leighton
Cornets warming up, Dana and Quentin

Trombone section Josh, Cameron, Lynn, Robert, Sandra and Alex, supported by Brass Factory Trombone player Anessa who listened in the audience this day.

Stevie having a rest

Horn Section, Tom, Sharon, Samantha, Sonya

Richard Lummus caught at his own game. Richard does amazing photography and supports the band so much, we appreciate everything you do on our behalf Richard.  


Leighton and George
DURING THE PERFORMANCE

The band being led by Musical Director Te Reo Hughes

The Band

Front Row Cornets: Walter, George and Dana

Back Row Cornets: Sarah, Sue, Quinn, Stevie

Back row cornet: Robbie
Back row cornets: Greg and Robbie
Back row cornet: Quin

Sarah and Sue
Euphonium: Geoff
Tenor Horn: Tom
Tenor Horn: Samantha
Trombone: Sandra
Tenor Horn: Sonya, Tuba: Leighton, Percussion: Lorene
Trombones: Josh, Alex, Sandra, Robert, Lynn
Percussion: Lorene, Tuba: Amanda and Leighton, Tenor Horn: Sharon and Sam
Percussion: Aiko
The Audience came in during their lunch time and enjoyed our music. From all accounts, commentary about our performance was very positive.



PACK UP IS A TEAM EFFORT




Sneaky selfie - Mum and Son: Sandra and Leighton

Aiko and Lorene 



Percussion certainly have the most to take back to the band room.


The Band - after the performance



Tuesday, October 22, 2019

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"









Monday, October 21, 2019

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).






Monday, October 7, 2019

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





Play out for Friends and Family - Christmas tunes, solos and a family band.

After a year of many rehearsals, the merry cherry and bright came to town with our friends and family play out. We invited guests to watch t...