New Brighton ANZAC Day 2024

‘Lest we Forget’ with the Band once again carrying on the ANZAC Day tradition.
The Band has played and Marched in every ANZAC Day Service since the beginning.
The Band marched Current and Ex-Servicemen and Women, Police, Fire Service, Army Cadets, Schools, Scouts, Guides and Community groups down to the New Brighton Cenotaph for the New Brighton RSA ANZAC Day Service, with hundreds turning out to remember the fallen and the men and women still serving.
It’s a great honour to once again be part of this very important day.🌹
                       
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

Up and Coming ANZAC Day 2024

The Band is very proud and honored to be again part of this year’s New Brighton ANZAC Day service.
Our Band has been part of this special day from the very first ANZAC Day all those years ago.
This ANZAC parade is one of the two most important playouts on the band calendar. Both have long histories and are an integral part of the band’s close ties with the community.
Lest we Forget 🌺🌺
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

CPBBA Riverside Concert at the Edmonds Band Rotunda

Back in March, we had our first concert of 2024 at the Edmonds Band Rotunda. It was part of the CPBBA Riverside Concert series.
We were joined by 5 other Bands; the afternoon was filled with some fantastic music.
We have a busy year planned this year, and we were so proud to again be part of this great concert series in this beautiful old Band Rotunda to kick off the season.
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

New Learnings Have Guest Conductor

We have had some great practices this year so far! The Band has been working up a new program for our first outing this year at the Edmonds Band  Rotunda, and with Lachlan away for a couple of weeks, he invited a guest conductor, Daniel Nihotte, to take the Band.
Daniel put the Band to work with all new music of which he put his stamp on it and what he wanted out of it.
Everyone learned a lot and some great stuff.
It has to be said that these young fellas know their stuff.
Thank you Daniel for giving up your time and taking us while Lachlan was away.
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

We have a Learners Band

New this year, Lachlan has reintroduced the Learner’s Band, which starts with a lesson and then a Band practice.
Craig Williamson had 3/4 learners going which Lachlan has built on that and started this group.
Some of the learners are current member’s children ( keeping it in the family ) plus a couple of Band members who have charged instruments.
In Lachlan’s absence, Jill puts them through their paces as comes down and lens a hand.
The Band hasn’t had a junior/learner Band for about 15 years, so it’s great to see some new Learners coming through.
     
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

UK Bob comes for a Visit

Back in February, we had a visitor from the UK.
Bob was traveling around NZ on holiday from the  UK and plays cornet for one of the Bands in London and filled a Solo seat in the front row and even got him to play some of the solos which was fantastic to listen to.
The Band has had many visiting bandsmen/women come and have a blow with us while they are on holiday and it is something we love doing.
The Band is working up a new program for our first concert of the 2024 season at the Edmunds Band Rotunda in March.
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

Christmas Season

And that’s a wrap for another successful Christmas Season.
The Band has had another busy season this year with 14 playouts which included the New Brighton Xmas parade. church service, Christmas concerts, and playing at our local New World Preston’s and Pak n Save Wainoni supermarkets.
This was also Lachlan’s first official band concert as Musical Director and handled it like a pro. Great job Lachlan
    
Its been a great Christmas season and everyone has enjoyed it.. The Band purchased some new updated carol books which has made the old carols a little more upbeat fun to play.
We also had the help from our Christmas Angels again this which also adds to the Christmas spirit.
Its been great yet again to have the support from our community and our local New World Preston’s and Pak n Save Wainoni supermarkets which without this we wouldn’t able to do it so a big Thank you from us and we look forward to entertaining you all this coming year.
The Band is now having a well-deserved break after what has been a very busy 2023.
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

Nine Lessons and Carols at St Faiths Church New Brighton

Christmas Carols and St Faiths Church New Brighton.
Christmas time last year the New Brighton Silver band joined the congregation of St Faiths Church in New Brighton for the annual Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

St Faiths Church New Brighton Early 1900.s

St Faiths Church is the Anglican Parish Church in New Brighton. It is a traditional older style stone church.
We are not sure as to the actual year St Faiths, along with the New Brighton Silver Band began this service so we decided to do a little research into the service itself the band’s involvement with it.
One of the band members joined in 1960 and the service was well established at that time. We think it probably goes back approximately 70 years.
We keep to the service tradition with one of our band members, Nadine, singing the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ unaccompanied.
Unfortunately, St Faiths stone church did not fare well in the Christchurch earthquakes of 2011. The church was closed for repairs. However, we used the church hall or another nearby church to keep the tradition going.
Then along came covid and inside services were stopped so we joined up for an outside carol singing and barbecue.
Now the repairs are complete. This lovely old church has been restored to its former glory with everything in pristine condition including the stunning stained glass window above the altar.

St Faith’s Church New Brighton Early 2000’s

The Service itself has an interesting history.
Up until the middle of the 18th century traditional Christmas Carols were not sung in churches. Choristers went around the streets to parishioners’ homes and serenaded them. In 1878 the Salvation Army instituted the idea of the Brass band playing Christmas Carols and the tradition that most of us remember was started.
In 1880 Bishop Benson of Truro Cathedral in Cornwall held a Christmas Eve service in which carols were sung along with readings from the scriptures. This was done to entice people out of the pubs to come and sing traditional carols. It proved very popular, and the service was soon taken up in other cathedrals.
The modern Service ‘Nine Lessons and Carols ‘began at Kings College Cambridge in 1918. The Dean, Eric Milner-White, saw the need to raise the mood of a somber nation following the losses of the Great War. He upgraded the old service, along with the world-renowned Kings College Choir, to meet this need. It was a great success. Soon the BBC broadcast it via radio and later TV to a world-wide audience. Churches throughout the Commonwealth and America began to use the service.

St Faith’s Church & New Brighton Silver Band  Nine Lessons and Carols 2023

This service, along with the ANZAC parade are the two most important playouts on the band calendar. Both have long histories and are an integral part of the band’s close ties with the community.
Grant Newby
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

We have a new Musical Director

It is with great pleasure that on behalf of the NBSB committee, we can inform you that we have appointed Lachlan Grant as the next Musical Director of New Brighton Silver Band.
We are fortunate to have someone of the caliber of Lachie want to be part of the NBSB family, as we look forward to him joining us, effective immediately.
Lachie is part of the New Zealand Army Band, but has also played for Auckland City Brass and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and has also been an Itinerant Music Teacher.
Congratulations and welcome to the NBSB Family Lachie.  We look forward to this new chapter and what it brings.
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment

We Farewell Cam

With the CPBBA Contest last Saturday behind us, it was also a sad day for the Band as this was our Cam’s last time as Musical Director, as he moves into a bigger role with the NZ Army Band.
Cam started with us in January 2022 and hit the ground running, with all new music and a short time to prepare until our first concert.
Cam also reintroduced the Band to recording; we got to record a couple of tracks, which is believed to be the first time the Band has done so since before the World Wars.
In Cam’s 2 years in the band, he has lifted the Band and put the fire back in our belly, and with the NZ Army Band’s Mutual Assistance Programme (MAP) the Band has gone from strength to strength.
With a number of concerts played, Cam also took us to 3 Contests, 2 being the CPBBA Contests (which we won last year and placed 2nd in this year) and a 2nd place at this year’s National Contest in Dunedin.
One that stands out in Cam’s time was this year’s ANZAC Service – this was noticed around the South Pacific in the Military world, which was a huge thrill for the Band.
Over Cam’s time, he has also arranged master classes and guest conductors for the Band, which has added so much value and growth to the Band as a whole and has set the bar high for our next Musical Director.
We are very proud of this young man, what he has achieved, and where he is going, and wish him all the best for the future and what it holds.
Thank you Cam, for everything you have done for the Band over your time as the 16th Musical Director of the NBSB and in this chapter of our 138-year history
Posted in Band News | Leave a comment