Hamilton City Brass Band Prize Giving 7 November 2020

AROUND THE WORLD - THE THEME YOU HAVE WHEN THERE IS NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!!

After an un precedented year interrupted by the worldwide pandemic of Covid19 we at Hamilton City Brass were fortunate to share an evening together celebrating the year that was.  

We remembered cancelled events: regionals, nationals, play outs... we also celebrated all that band members did to keep our organisation moving forward. Thanks to band President Walter Genefaas and his team on the committee, the musical directors Mason Elliott (Senior Band), Te Reo Hughes (Auxiliary Band), Malcolm Barr and Tracey Seifert (Brass Factory) for keeping the show on the road, so to speak. 

When we first entered the Koru Lounge we were met by hosts Caleb and Emma who got us to fill in our departure cards sharing with everyone locations we had been to around the world and where we want to travel to. Let's face it, as per many kiwis we are great travellers and have explored many places in our time.

Caleb & Emma with Natalie

Where shall we go to next??? Yeah, home is a good location - and like many kiwis summer holidays around New Zealand sound like a good plan!

Cameron presented the highest attendance award for Auxiliary to Quentin and Leighton.

Simon presented the attendance award for senior band to Reuben and Ross and Stephen (absent)

Walter giving his presidents report

Malcolm presented players of brass factory their certificates: Katie, Abby, Sandra, Anessa, Torrie and Daniel

Malcolm presents the Most improved award for the senior band to Daniel

Malcolm awards Mike with his long service award

Auxiliary Section of the Year: Baritones and Euphoniums

Te Reo presented the award to Walter, Simon, Daniel and Lyz

Senior Band Section of the Year: Horns

Malcolm presented the award to Te Reo and Robyn

Lyz presented the Auxiliary Bands Person of the Year award to Sandra

Senior Band Bands Person of the Year Stephen (absent)

7 November - Morrinsville Market Day

Morrinsville Market Day organisers have been raving about the day Hamilton Auxiliary Brass came to town.  So much so that we've been officially informed that we are to be welcomed back at a future date. This privilege is not afforded to every group who performs, so well done team! People commented that they enjoyed our mix of old and new, easy listening tunes such as: Hit the Road Jack, Puttin' on the Ritz, (Everything I do) I do it for you, Sweet Caroline, Monsters Inc., Instant Concert... some even complimented our MD Te Reo Hughes personally with their joyous tears explaining what it meant to hear live brass music again. 

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this, our second official play out in town... (yes, February feels like a long time ago when we played alongside Hamilton City Brass Senior Band at the Gardens Arts Festival). Band members felt a huge sense of accomplishment for having this play out.  It certainly was a case of better late than never! 

Leighton had a very lonely role in the back row in the bass section, so much so that actually, he was the bass section. This was the one time the band has heard Te Reo request for Leighton to play his signature volume, commonly known in band terms as LL (Leighton Loud). It was a bit of a tough ask for one lonely Eb Bass to hold its own up against a trombone section of five, and a full cornet and horn section. Alas, he relished the opportunity to perform in his own town along with his family (Quentin, Sandra and Anessa) and other locals (Torrie and George). A few people asked about the latest music addition "Morrinsville March," to which Leighton replied, "the band is working on it."

At the end of the concert and second run through of Instant Concert the band silenced for the audience while Todd and Malcolm set about playing a special tune for Sarah who celebrated her birthday with the band!! 

Thank you to helpers who played on the day: Malcolm, Sergio and Todd who so generously gave up their time to support our play out. 

Thank you once again to Richard Lummus for your photography. 

MD Te Reo leads the way

Sarah celebrating her birthday with the band

Todd and Rowan

Torrie

Lynn on Bass Trombone

Leighton on EbBass

Dana and Todd.                              Alex and Torrie

Walter

Euphoniums and Baritones

George, Dana, Todd and Rowan on Front Row.

 Sue, Quinn, Sarah and Lizzie on the back Row

George and Dana

Glenn on Tenor Horn

Leighton and Torrie.                   Quentin on Flugalhorn

Samantha on Tenor Horn

George, Dana, Todd, Rowan and Quentin. 

Quinn, Sarah and LIzzie

The Trombone Section: Alex, Robert, Sandra, Anessa, Lynn

Malcolm and Robbie

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.

New Zealand Youth Band Selections

Congratulations to Simon Winship and Walter Hughes for being selected for the NZ Youth Band of 2021 under the talented MD Mr Alan Spence who for many years has been the MD of the A Grade Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass Band. 

Simon originally played in the EBOP Brass Band but joined Hamilton Auxiliary in 2019 for our nationals so he is no stranger to our band.  He is currently studying at the University of Waikato and it is awesome he has chosen to play with us again.

Recent pictures of Simon playing Baritone for an assessment and in the band room as a member of the percussion team.

Walter has been playing for 3.5 years beginning with cornet, baritone and now euphonium at Hamilton Auxiliary Brass.  He is a student at Fraser High and is currently a member of the NZ Secondary Schools Brass Band 2020 as well.

This photo was taken at Matamata Festival 2019 when Walter played the band's solo 

"Wonderful World"

Simon and Walter will both being playing baritone in the National youth band. We wish them both well!