ISSN 1175 3331 (Print) ISSN 1179-2493 (Online) ISSUE 55 April 2013 The Official Newsletter of the Woolston Brass Band Est. 1891. Patron Adrienne, Lady Stewart ONZM QSM LLD (Hon) Seat Patrons 2013 Three years ago Adrienne, Lady Stewart hosted a function I Only Want to be with You before Sarah Hickman (flugel solo) to launch the Seat Patrons’ Sponsorship Scheme which saw 30 and Joel Williams (polyphonic sousaphone) jazzed things up individuals and businesses sign up to financially support the considerably with their version of the Youngblood Brass Band’s band for a three year term. On Thursday the 11th of April, Lady Brooklyn. Joel then sang Michael Bublé’s, Feeling Good... to Stewart once again came to the fore and hosted a wonderful rapturous applause, especially from the females in the audience! evening for current and prospective sponsors at Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel. As the blank spaces on the “Leader Board” were filled in one by one with the names of new and renewing sponsors, Dave Fiu MD Graham Hickman presented a programme of music belted out the finisher,Signed, Sealed, Delivered. This was a most designed not only to demonstrate the band’s versatility but also appropriate finale to a fun evening! to create a convivial, relaxed atmosphere while the guests sipped their drinks, partook of the hors d’œuvre and parted with their Much has changed in Christchurch in the last three years with money! regards to people’s personal and business lives. With this in mind, we are especially grateful to those Seat Patrons who have Peter Graham’s Summon the Dragons proclaimed a start to supported us throughout. We are very pleased to welcome back proceedings, and this was followed by a cornet solo by our those supporters who have renewed their sponsorship, and we are Principal Cornet Kyle Lawson who rendered a heart-felt yet especially delighted to welcome a number of new sponsors: John authoritative performance of Lady Stewart’s Air, also by Peter and Helen Thomson, Asko Design, Peter and Jean Hyman, Graham. Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel, Sara Daly and Robin and Songstress Caroline Blackmore Dreamed a Dream (from Ralph Redpath. Les Miserables)‚ and Eupho Supremo Davey Boyes easily The official updated list of seat sponsors will be published conjured images of The Last Night of the Proms with a after the 31st May 2013, the last day of the previous three-year virtuoso performance of Rule Britannia. The “serious” side sponsorship term. of the band’s offering concluded with a snippet from Drake Rimmer’s arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Symphonic Suite Scheherazade. Life Member Dave Johnstone spoke on the band’s behalf. Dave thanked the guests for accepting the invitation to attend and he expressed gratitude to both past and prospective supporters. In reply, Adrienne, Lady Stewart spoke of the band’s worthiness and encouraged the other guests to follow her example in supporting the band. We are forever grateful to ace crooner Dave Fiu who joined us for the second half of the programme, and put everyone in a good mood with his versions of Love is in the Air and Mack the Knife. Our very own Caroline Blackmore kept the pot boiling with her Band Treasurer Graeme Coomer adds another name to the list. Salute to Youth Cameron Lee Some people may believe that a brass band with a 122-year history would only have grumpy old men within its ranks. While Woolston Brass does have a few senior members, it is the younger generation who are filling the band room as well as some of the principal seats. A quick head count reveals that the majority of the band members are under 40 years of age but more remarkable is that a third of all the players are under 23. (This is a statistic from the senior band not the Brass Academy.) So in this issue of The Woolstonian we aim to highlight our more youthful side, starting with a few words from 18-year-old Chris Broadbent on his highlights of the 2013 National Youth Band: This year the National Youth Band was based in the far south in a little town called Roxburgh. The south did not disappoint with sunny, hot weather for the duration of the camp and large crowds in all three towns the band performed in. This year the band was lucky to be in the presence of greatness, with Dr Robert Childs, the famous musician and probably the biggest name in brass banding around the world, coming to the camp. Dr Bob took master classes with some band members. It was incredible to watch him transform a solo from just a piece of music to a musical masterpiece, just by changing the dynamics and inspiring Jordan Seaton the musician to put feeling and passion into the music. He also took the band for a rehearsal and in just a short hour he managed to transform the band’s playing from good playing to brilliant playing by just talking for most of the rehearsal. Dr Bob’s influence on the band was amazing, just his presence in the room made the band step up and play brilliant music. I’m sure that many members and tutors took a lot out of what Dr Bob told the soloists and the band members. Another excellent musician who the band was lucky Ross Yorkstone enough to accompany was Byron (Buzz) Newton. Buzz and Christopher Broadbent Andrew Yorkstone is a world-class euphonium player and a former pupil of Dr Bob Childs at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Buzz played four pieces with the band backing him and all of these pieces impressed not only the audience but the band members as well. One piece of advice I heard on camp was “an amateur musician will practice till they get it right; a professional musician will practice till they don’t get it wrong”. I feel Buzz falls in the professional league for I never heard him split a note whether it was in the practice room or the concert. As well as being an incredible musician, Buzz also got involved in the physical activities with the band members. He took part in touch rugby, Frisbee and catch where he threw the ball as hard as he could at a slip cordon consisting of ten band members. It was unknown before this that Buzz is a very good cricket player and could actually throw the ball reasonably hard. The National Youth Brass Band camp was a great learning experience for many members of the band and never fell below my expectations musically and socially. It was great to spend time with other keen young musicians from around the country. Our congratulations to the Woolston members of 2013 National Youth Band of New Zealand: Miles Bennett, Joel Williams Miles Bennett Chris Broadbent, Kyle Lawson, Cameron Lee, Jordan Seaton, Joel Williams, and Andrew Yorkstone. Nick Johnson Woolston Brass Academy Update from Kate Sander Woolston Academy’s end of year celebration was held at the newly rebuilt pub The Twisted Hop relocated in the Woolston Village. A fitting location and many thanks to the owners and manager who are both involved with the Academy. The Junior Band and Concert Brass played to a full house and it was great to see lots of friends and family in the audience as well as many members of senior band who came along to support us and listen to the progress that has been made by all the players. We took the opportunity to celebrate a record ten members of the Learners’ Group who are now ready to move on to Junior Band. Tutors Bill Vail, Emma Caunter and Dale Hounsome-Vail have clearly done a great job in preparing these new players for the band. In turn four cornet players from the Junior Band were promoted to Concert Brass. After performances from both bands the following awards were presented: the Most Improved Player awards went to Zac Powell (Junior Band) and Geoff Drewett (Concert Brass) and Bandsperson of the Year A word from Nick Johnson to Martin Bennett (Concert Brass) and the Wilson/Sanders family (Junior Band). Hi everyone, I just wanted to say how pleased I am to take over the baton of Concert Brass. Having been in New The evening’s special award went to Dale Hounsome-Vail who has Zealand now for over three years this opportunity has been with the Academy for ten years, having started as an eight- come at the right time for me. Before moving here I spent year-old on baritone in the Junior Band. Dale played an excerpt from 23 years in the British military band system ending up as Doodallyanastics and left to huge applause as he sets off to Wellington to Bandmaster to the Band of the Welsh Guards in London, study music. We wish him all the best. performing at many high-profile state and ceremonial The evening ended with thanks to the tutors and to Jill Pears, conductor events and enjoying some great overseas tours. Upon of the Junior Band, and Steve Chapman of Concert Brass for their completing my service I returned to University and hard work, patience and dedication throughout the year. Steve in turn undertook a one year Post Graduate Teaching Diploma in thanked everyone for their support during his tenure as conductor having primary education. Subsequently I spent one year as a Year recently resigned to concentrate on his new position as Head of Music at 1 (five and six-year-olds) classroom teacher during which Christchurch Boys’ High School.