THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE WOOLSTON BRASS BAND • ISSN 1175 3331 • ISSUE 39 MARCH 2009

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National Contest PreparationsNational Contest preparations are well underway with almost every seat filled with keen and able musicians. The Test Piece this year is Paganini Variations by Phillip Wilby and the Own Choice is Dreams by Bertrand Moren. Woolston are playing Canterbury Chorale by Jan Van der Roost for the Sacred Item. The entertainment programme for the Band of the Year is shaping up well. It includes a wide range of music from jazz through to traditional, and includes a solo singer and wonderful instrumental solos.

On 15 February, after playing at the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the morning, Concert Brass had the first of their Sunday Bandstand concerts. This one was among the sun, sea and surf at Scarborough. We played all our favourite pieces for an appreciative audience including children playing on the swings and slides.

On 1 March, both Concert Brass and Junior Band were involved in Sunday Bandstand Concerts. The rain of the previous day had cleared and the sun was shining. Concert Brass played at Victoria Square and they included an old favourite Sing Sing in their programme.

Junior Band played at the Band Rotunda in the gardens. Families set up on their picnic blankets and the band played their whole repertoire, nearly managing to fill up the whole hour – not bad for this early in the year.

A special mention goes to soloists Sylvia and Kathy who stunningly played their solo, Sugar Blues and Simon, the newest member who played the solo of Teddy Bear’s Picnic on the sousaphone.

The Sunday Bandstand Seriesby Cameron Ryan-Pears

2pm Monday April 13th 2009Adults: $10. Children: $5

Tickets available at the door or phone 960 6038

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My first national contest was just sixty-three years ago. Held here in Christchurch from 17th to 23rd March 1946, it was the first since 1940 due to the Second World War and appropriately named “Victory Contest”. National contests were held either in February or March then, and began with the Hymn Test on Sunday and continued to the following Saturday, normally the day of the Quickstep. In 1946 some 37 bands were entered in A, B and C Grades, but not all actually competed. I was then a junior member of the Feilding Municipal Band (non-competitor that year) so was merely an entrant in both B flat Bass Solo and the Boys’ Solo. Venues for solo and party events were the Civic Theatre in Manchester Street and Begg’s Concert Hall in High Street, both long demolished.

The B flat Bass Solo had 22 entrants, but my programme hadn’t been annotated with any scratchings, points or results. I think I was placed third or fourth in that event. The Boys’ Solo (no female players in those days!), for players of any brass instrument under 17 years, had no fewer than 74 entrants and a glance at the programme reveals many well-known names of the past, but surprisingly no youthful Woolston players of that era. Peter Newcomb’s Challenging Brass (probably the definitive reference) lacks results of the Boys’ Solo, but memory tells me that Jack Ibell, then of Ashburton Silver, won the event that year and the next. I was fourth in 1946, I think. In other 1946 championship events, Woolstonians Shirley Dougall (E flat Bass) and Leo Carruthers (tenor trombone) were winners, as was Woolston’s trombone trio. The Cornet Championship was won by Louis Fox (later Woolston’s conductor in 1953) and another of the 71 entrants in that event was our own Mervyn Waters, then of Christchurch’s Crichton Cobbers Club band.

The band events, then. The Hymn Contest (open to all grades) was held outdoors on the opening day, Sunday 17th March at Lancaster Park (now renamed AMI Stadium), and of six A Grade bands of the original nine entered, Woolston (R.J. (Dick) Estall) didn’t score highly. Hawera won the event. The 1st A Grade Test was held at the Civic Theatre in Manchester Street on Tuesday evening 19th March, test music being Percy Fletcher’s Epic Symphony. Woolston won that test by one point. The Second A Grade Test took place at the Civic two evenings later, the music Joan of Arc (Denis Wright). Woolston was placed third. The noted Australian E.P. (Ted) Kerry was the judge, and the aggregate points put Wellington Waterside under Ron Fenton in first place, with Woolston second equal with St Kilda (W.L.(Les) Francis).

Hawera Municipal (H.C.A. Fox) won the B Grade, with Nelson Garrison (R.C. Trownson) in second place. 18 bands were entered in that grade, playing just one test, L’Arlesienne (Bizet). The C Grade appears to have been “own choice” and with ten bands entered, was won by Auckland Waterside Junior (J.H. Deighton.). (Who among readers can unearth the points awarded in 1946?)

On Saturday 23rd March, final day of the contest, saw the “Military Display and Quickstep March” at Lancaster Park. Woolston’s drum major was the legendary Andy Lilburne and the set course of that era to be marched included the famous one hundred yards (120 paces marched in 60 seconds if possible, bands timed by stopwatch), countermarches, turns and a wheel to place the band facing the grandstand, where it finished playing. All bands had already undergone inspection at the park on Thursday morning, saving much time on Quickstep day. After step-off bands were timed and paces and intervals measured by a panel of New Zealand Army judges using pace-sticks. Meanwhile, the chief musical judge - placed inside a caravan - listened to the playing, points both military and musical collated afterwards then announced to the waiting and invariably impatient crowd of competitors and spectators. St Kilda won that A Grade Quickstep. The quickstep course was later revised, and remained a set course for many years until display marching was instituted. The Street March, a later innovation, has since 1995 been the sole survivor of the marching component of national contests.

There were plenty of bandsmen in military uniform in 1946, many still serving in the Armed Forces, and a number of bands attached to Army units were in khaki. Of the venues, only Lancaster Park remains, albeit vastly changed from those far-off days. The Civic Theatre’s twin building in Manchester Street (the former City Council chambers) still stands, now a night club, the next-door theatre and its Wurlitzer organ being replaced years ago by a commercial premises. Charles Begg and Company’s spacious building was on the west side of High Street just south of the Cashel Street corner, next to the White Hart Hotel, and the firm for all your sheet music, instruments and accessories. “Begg’s Concert Hall” where so much amateur music was heard, not just brass, was upstairs on the first floor. During the day-long Boys’ Solo event of 1946 carpenters were working from outside scaffolding on the High Street side of the hall, and I well remember Jim Eyers (euphonium, Wanganui Garrison) playing Weber’s Last Waltz to the accompaniment of persistent loud hammering from outside. (Jim’s now eighty years of age, and still playing.) Those were the days!

Sources: 1946 contest programme, Challenging Brass (S.P. Newcomb), Brass Supreme! (Denis Dewe), Personal recollections

Events Calendar

Saturday April 11, 2 pm Ex-members Open Rehearsal Woolston Brass Bandroom, Dampier Street All ex-members of Woolston Brass welcome

Monday April 13 (Easter Monday) 2pm Pre-contest Concert – Seriously Brass Come and enjoy Woolston at their fiery pre-contest best at the Aurora Centre, Burnside High School

April 15 - 19 New Zealand National Contest The NZBBA National Contest is to be held in Napier this year. For event times and venues check the NZBBA website

Saturday April 25, 2pm ANZAC Concert Christchurch Town Hall Woolston Brass and the NZ Army Band collaborate to commemorate this important date in our country’s history. All the old ANZAC favourites along with the world premier of Dwayne Bloomfield’s new work “Passchendaele”, a moving work that reflects on the first World War battle during which New Zealand suffered its largest losses. Tickets via Ticketek. Adults $20, ex-members and Senior Citizens $15, Students $10

Saturday May 23 Black Tie Ball at Gethsemane Gardens The Ark Ballroom, Gethsemane Gardens, 27 Revelation Drive, Clifton Hill, Christchurch This is the third Black Tie Ball hosted so kindly by Bev and Ken Loader. The evening commences with drinks at 6.30pm in the “Arktivity Lounge”. Woolston Brass start the entertainment at 7.30pm in the “Arkassion Ballroom” and the meal is served at 7.45pm You may book your tickets at info@woolstonbrass.org Get is quickly so as not to miss out as tickets are selling fast

Saturday June 27 CPBBA Solo & Ensemble contest

Looking Back In Time:The 1946 National Contest – by Denis Dewe

Player Profile – Kevin HickmanKevin Hickman is the principal cornet for the Woolston Brass Band. He has been in the band for 15 years. The National Contest this year in Napier will be Kevin’s 15th New Zealand contest playing principal cornet for the Woolston Brass Band. No mean feat I think you will all agree. The previous two principal cornet players, Kevin Joughin and Dave Johnstone, each served the band as Principal for eight years (not forgetting Chris Phillips who did one year in the middle). When Kevin reached the eight year mark he remembers thinking that ‘it was about enough’. However, nearly seven years later Kevin is still here and enjoying the journey. He maintains that there are always ups and downs in banding but ‘the good times always outweigh the bad’. During Kevin’s 15 years as Principal there have been more than 20 players sit below him on the solo cornet bench at a national contest; Kevin hopes this is just a sign of the transient times and not a reflection of his leadership abilities!

As a child Kevin saw a trumpet player on Stars on Sunday on the television and asked his father if he could play a trumpet. Everyone thought that was a great idea but it was decided after some discussion that in fact Kevin was too young at nine years old but his older brother Graham (Woolston’s current conductor) and his father would join the Feilding Municipal Brass Band. A year later Kevin was allowed to join, and several years later his younger brother Murray also joined. All three boys enjoyed the band and in 1984 started making the 50 minute each way trip to Wanganui twice a week to play with the Tenderkist Wanganui City Silver under Kevin Jarrett. His first national contest with an A grade band was in 1984 in Nelson playing bottom 3rd cornet (this was Kevin Joughin’s last contest as Principal Cornet for Woolston).

Kevin won the Junior Champion of Champions in 1986, and Australian Junior Cornet in 1988. Wanganui also won the 1988 Australian Contest. This win was made all the sweeter by both Woolston and Continental (now Dalewool) competing at the contest.

In 1990 Kevin went to London for three years and played for Hillingdon Brass under Phillip Sparke who was reportedly ‘a great laugh’. Kevin’s time with Woolston began after he returned from London.

Kevin has been in four National Bands, been a member of six Championship winning bands, and won the Championship Cornet and Champion and Champions in 2006.

His favourite tour was the 1995 National Band Tour to the States for six weeks. Graham and Murray were also on the tour and all three boys enjoyed ‘just being boys’. Kevin remembers the Wanganui National Contest in 2001 as being Woolston’s best year with such a comprehensive win. The 2007 National Band which toured New Zealand under Howard Taylor with James Morrison was his musical highlight.

Apart from personal and band success, one of the things Kevin has enjoyed most about being in the band is the opportunity to play with so many world class players. Soloists usually stand in front of the Principal Cornet and Kevin has appreciated “sitting within a yard” of world class soloists such as David Thornton, David Bremner, Phillip Johnstone and Colin Clarke to name a few.

Kevin now considers himself a Woolstonian through and through, and cannot imagine ever playing for a different band. He loves the camaraderie the band offers with both long-term players and those passing through, the opportunity to work alongside his brother (however challenging that may sometimes be), and the lifelong friends he has made in the band.

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Woolston Personnel ChangesSince December there have been several changes within the ranks of the Woolston Brass Band. Woolston welcomes Hamish Upton on percussion, and Garth Coffey on horn.

Caroline Blackmore on cornet and Todd Turner on percussion are welcomed to the ranks of the band for this National Contest. Shane Foster on soprano cornet is also stepping up in Colin Clarke’s absence.

Woolston Brass Academy 2009The year has started off for Woolston Brass Academy with a large number of concerts and a number of new members both in the band, and in the lesson groups. Welcome back everyone, we look forward to having a fabulous 2009.

Christmas RaffleWoolston Brass again took to local shopping malls and supermarkets this year selling tickets in our annual raffle. We would like to thank the businesses that allowed us to set up on their premises. First prize was a giant Christmas stocking filled to bursting with toys, appliances, manchester, games, and other goodies for the whole family valued at over $1750. Second prize was a home entertainment system and there were also five Christmas hampers filled with food to be won. The raffle was well supported by the community this year, with many new faces buying tickets as well as the regulars who have been buying tickets for decades! We managed to raise over $7000.

Christmas Raffle winner Trish Vessey of Leeston

Santa Hats, Jingle bells and a trailer full of hay. Not quite the float some of us were expecting… On the 13th December, Woolston Concert Brass performed in the Lincoln Santa Parade. It was a mission for some of us to actually get onto our hay bales, due to either long skirts or short legs. Arriving at 9.30 am and playing at 11.00am we kept ourselves entertained by decorating our float and afterwards, as the parade was drawing to an end, we amused each other with a small hay fight – which was short lived.

Although we were supposed to be playing Christmas carols we just couldn’t stop ourselves from playing Low Rider, our all time favourite piece, written by Mitch.

The Lincoln Parade was quite small so it ended up taking us longer to get there than it did for us to go round on our hay bales. We hope to go back next year but some of us also hope that a more comfortable ride will await us next time.

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Another early morning start for those dedicated band members who are already on holiday kicked off on the 14th December, the day Woolston Concert Brass played at Riccarton Market. Arriving at Riccarton Market was very stressful for some, first having to find a park amongst many enthusiastic shoppers and then scouting out where the stage was hidden between numerous stalls.

Throughout the day the band played in two separate slots. Both of these slots had a small audience watching but was also appreciated by those around who acknowledged the band by smiling towards us.

The first slot was at 11.30am and we played a selection of Christmas Carols which included favourites such as Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer arranged for us by Jill Pears. A few members of the Junior Band, who the music was written for, joined in with Concert Brass in playing these pieces.

Our afternoon slot started at 3.00pm and was enjoyed by all those who were around. A highlight for everyone, band included was the non-Christmas carol – played by memory – Low Rider. This piece was more eventful than normal due to a lack of our trombone section which was replaced by Mitch who suddenly grabbed for Georgia’s baritone, an event that caused a few of us to crack up as Georgia was left to clap along.

Overall, and extremely exciting weekend for all involved especially those members dedicated to many groups who had to fit in a Reprecussion rehearsal and a concert as well.

Well hello everyone from Woolston Concert Brass for 2009. It has been awhile since my last report so I will start by going back to the end of 2008 for a catch up before moving on.

The end of 2008 was yet another busy time for WCB firstly by playing for the Lincoln Christmas Parade as we have done for the last two years, and again we were well received by the local community. This was followed by performances at the popular Sunday Riccarton Markets Christmas gala. A great venue to play at as crowds of people were moving through trying to find a bargain and the day also involved lots of different acts from around the local Riccarton community. Hopefully we will be back there very soon to perform again.

However, the year wasn’t over until we’d had time to chill out, relax and reflect on the year. We did this by having the end of year break-up at Mitch’s house, away from the band room. A good turn out from the whole band ensured lots of food had to be cooked and that we had full teams when we shot over to Cashmere High School for a game of soccer and bull-rush. Awards were presented at the BBQ. The recipients were as follows:

1. Bandsperson of the Year. - Rebecca Reside (Horn) 2. Most Improved Player - Dale Hounsome-Vail 3. Section Award - Lower Cornets

This brings us to 2009. Practices had to commence earlier than normal this year due to a busy programme over the next three months. All players came back refreshed and ready to go. The band also has two new players that have moved up from the Junior Band, so welcome to Miles (cornet) and Martin Bennet (trombone).

The first play-out on the 2009 programme was the popular Teddy Bears Picnic at Mona Vale. This also involved the Junior Band who played for about 20 minutes with WCB following. Mark Hadlow, the event organiser, was so impressed with both bands that he has already invited us back next year to perform. A quick move from Mona Vale to Sumner followed as the band had another concert to perform as part of the Sunday Bandstand programme. Sumner provided a great location: nice, relaxed and with a good crowd to perform to. Some of the crowd came up and thanked us for a great concert and said how pleasing it was to see young and eager players.

The Run for Life relay on February 28 was to be our next play-out, but unfortunately this had to be cancelled due to rain. Sunday however, brought the sun out again and another concert for the Sunday Bandstand programme. This concert was in Victoria Square and again drew a good crowd.

Our next concert needs a special mention as we were invited to play at it after our wonderful performance at the Teddy Bears Picnic. It was at the International Ellerslie Flower Show earlier this month. We performed on the Main Stage on Saturday March 14.

So we have now performed lots of concerts, and many more are planned for the rest of the year.

Happy playing from WCB. We all look forward to entertaining you soon.

News from Woolston Concert Brass by Tristan Mitchell

Riccarton Market by Georgia Hoy and Courtney Milne

Lincoln Santa Parade by Georgia Hoy and Courtney Milne

Band BBQThe annual Woolston Brass Band Christmas BBQ was enjoyed with splendid weather just before Christmas. A good time was had by all and Graham Hickman must be thanked for so warmly hosting the event. Santa made an appearance much to the delight of the children.

The Teddy Bears Picnic by Sylvia Hounsome-Vail

The Woolston Junior Band was at the band room early on the Sunday morning to have a final rehearsal for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. After the rehearsal we travelled to Mona Vale where the amazing Teddy Bears’ Picnic was being held! We saw clowns riding unicycles, big teddy bears, and jester-like people walking around telling jokes. When we got to the stage, we played Inter-pop then Angels. The crowd seemed to enjoy our playing. They had their teddy bears in one hand and, with the other hand were eating very yummy looking picnic food! Then the music got up-beat as we played Hit the Road Jack, Ants Go Marching and Brass Samba. By now the people were still pouring in to the field to eat their food to wonderful music. Then we played our final piece, The Teddy Bear Picnic, which ended with a roar of excitement, appreciation and teddy bears and people clapping for us. The crowd still kept pouring in as the Woolston Concert Brass started setting up where we had been just a few minutes ago.

We had such a great time performing at our first concert of the year, so I’m sure we’ll keep on doing it well for the rest of the year too.

Christchurch Town Hall2 PM Saturday, 25th April 2009

Adults $20, Senior Citizens $15,Students $10, Family Concession $50

Book at Ticketek 377 8899 *Booking Fee May Apply

National Youth BandThe National Youth Band of New Zealand has a busy year ahead. Woolston has several members in the band and they will be having many adventures this year. They begin with a CD recording and an Anniversary Concert (celebrating 50 years of National Youth Bands) on June 1 in Wellington. In July they assemble and play an Anniversary Concert in Auckland before departing for the Japan International Youth Musicale and concerts in and around Tokyo.

The next generation of Woolstonians: Jordan Seaton, Jacob Hickman and Katy Pinker

A happy Jacob Hickman on Santa’s knee

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Woolston Brass, 37 Dampier Street, Woolston, Christchurch, New Zealand.Telephone (03) 389 6340 (Band Room). Established in 1891. Music Director: Graham Hickman.

P.O. Box 8187, Riccarton, Christchurch. www.woolstonbrass.org

Next Issue InformationThe next Woolstonain will be released in June 2009. To receive your copy via email, or if you have any contributions, please phone Sarah Hickman on 366 1566 or email: hickman.sarah@gmail.com

Contacts: Chairman – Gary Pinker gary.pinker@vodafone.net.nz

Musical Director – Graham Hickman grahamhickman@xtra.co.nz

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