Covid 19 for the Band, like the rest of the country, has had an impact on our activities with a number of engagements having to be cancelled including an ANZAC Day Parade and an ANZAC  Concert with the St Albans Choir. However Band Members were asked, where possible, play ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ at their Gate at 6am. Many of our members played and contributed to a very memorable ANZAC Day morning. Our Band has always played an active part in ANZAC  Day activities and it is heartening to know that tradition was still upheld.

Band Room Upgrades

This year we have completed the upgrading of the toilet block which also included a major repair of earthquake damaged drains. Currently we are in the process of upgrading the kitchen. The Committee is grateful to the Supporters Club who have funded the repair of the drains and given a substantial donation towards the upgrade of the kitchen. The kitchen has been equipped with a new oven, a dishwasher and a good fridge. Wiring has been upgraded and checked for safety and we have begun installing new LED Lighting. Once vinyl floor covering is in place it will be completed.

Fundraising

Over the past few years we have been fortunate to receive $46 000 from The Rata Foundation and $4000 from the Lion Foundation for our Instrument replacement scheme. To date we have purchased several new quality instruments being, an EEb Bass, 2 Cornets, 2 Tenor Horns, a Baritone, and a set of Timpani drums. Recently we purchased a good quality BBb Bass via Trade Me and a new marching Drum plus accessories. We have also supported two members to purchase their own instruments under our buy back scheme.

We have also had generous support from Pub Charity who provided funding for vinyl in the toilet area, a new security system and a new electric range in the kitchen.

The Four Winds Foundation have supported us with funds for a dishwasher in the new kitchen.

We are very grateful to these Charities for their ongoing support.

In Memoriam

This year the band has played at two services to honour the memory of fellow band members.

Mr Ted King

Ted was a very fine cornet player and was Solo Cornet for the band for number of years.  For some time he also played Solo cornet with the Woolston Brass and later with both Kaiapoi and the Woolston Workingmen’s Club Band. Ted’s family arranged a memorial service at the New Brighton RSA and invited the band, along with bandsmen from other bands, to play a few numbers. Being a Returned Service Man Last Post and Reveille were called.

Sharon (Shazza) Lilley

Sharon passed away unexpectedly after a short illness. She was 29 years old. The Lilley Family have an association with the Band going back many years and Mum, Wendy, and Dad Alan, are active playing members. Wendy said that Sharon was destined to be a member of the band way before she was born, and so it was. She became a talented trombone player and was active in our band and others. Not only was Sharon a talented musician, she achieved the highest standard s in the Girl Guide movement with Duke of Edinburgh  Gold Award , became a qualified Chef and studied and gained her private pilot’s license. Sharon’s family donated her Trombone to the Band which has been suitably inscribed.

In early March the Avonside Girls High School Old Girls Association organized a day to celebrate the school closing on the old site prior to a move to the new school at the QE11 venue. The band were happy to participate and provided a suitable programme for the picnic type setting.

The band participated in Canterbury Provincial Championships held in September. Three members took part in solo events and the band competed in the D Grade section. The band chose to play Malvern Suite by Philip Sparke as the test and St Laurence by CA Millar as the hymn. Both of these pieces were challenging for the band but with a lot of work we achieved a good standard. While not being placed we are happy with the standard we achieved.

The band was honoured to play at the 90^th birthday get together for Mr Keith Stamler and his family. Keith is a life member of the band having served as president of the Supporters Club for many years. During that time he organized many fundraising ventures and was an integral part in raising funds to build the Band rooms. Keith’s family are a Band family with his children all being actively involved at some point in time.

In September we were invited to join the St Albans Choir for another concert at St Paul’s Church. This time as the title suggests, the choir sang brackets from the British Isles.  They also had a group playing Irish pipes, harp, violin to perform authentic Celtic music. The band took this opportunity to present its programme for the upcoming Provincial Brass Band Championships giving us a good dress rehearsal. These concerts are great to be involved with. The evenings are very well supported and combining with the choir provides fun and varied content.

The Band again combined with the St Albans Choir to present a concert and sing along of nostalgic ANZAC tunes at St Paul’s Church in Papanui. The Choir and the band both did a couple of brackets and then combined for a sing along with the audience. A highlight for the band was the playing of Evening Hymn and Last Post.

On ANZAC Day the Band again led the New Brighton Parade along the Esplanade to the War Memorial and provided music including The Last Post and Reveille throughout the Service. Participation in this Parade is a key part of the Band’s community activity and we have been involved with this service since its inception.

As a fundraising venture the Band arranged to Busk outside the Halswell New World playing a light and entertaining programme. The format was similar to pre-Christmas caroling and we were delighted with the response from the customers who were both generous and delighted with the music. After such a successful venture the Band will put this activity firmly on its agenda for next year.

Our 2019 year got off to great start with the Council sponsored Kite Day at New Brighton Beach. Under the colourful canopy of fantastic kites the band presented a lively programme to a large and appreciative audience. Small children danced and adults tapped their feet to the beat while the band played on. During the half time break people mingled with the band and shared experiences of past play outs. It was a really great start to our musical year.

Our Christmas programme started on 24^th November with a combined rehearsal with the St Albans Choir prior to a Christmas Concert at St Pauls Church in Papanui. The Band had 24 playouts leading up to Christmas with several being standing community commitments and many being carolling bands outside supermarkets. Some engagement required a full band while a roster had been organised to put smaller bands to cover other events. The Band had a very successful Carolling season raising over $5000

Christmas Concert at St Pauls Church

For this concert we combine with the St Albans Choir, along with the Church organist, and presented a programme of traditional Christmas music. Each group provides a couple of brackets as well as some combined items. It culminated with a rousing sing along with the audience of popular Christmas carols followed by a shared supper of finger foods.

This concert, along with an ANZAC concert with the St Albans Choir are becoming regular features of the Band programme and are very well supported by the local community

Funds raised from this concert were shared between the band and the Christchurch City Mission.

Band Christmas Function

Not everything the Band does involves music! The Band Supporters Club organised a Social gathering at the Harewood Tavern which was well attended by Band members and their partners. We had a really enjoyable meal and a good chin wag

Christchurch City Christmas Parade

The Band did not take part in the actual parade but chose to participate in the new City Council initiative of having bands play in the city centre prior to the parade. Accordingly we played in the City Mall for a couple of hours leading up to the parade. This provided a great vibe with lots of family groups and tourists stopping to listen. Nadine singing a couple of solos went down very well

Bunnings Shirley Christmas Night

This year we have formed a relationship with Bunnings Shirley where we participate in some of their in house functions while they, in turn support us by providing us with a date and ingredients for a Sausage Sizzle. A Christmas Party is held for the families of their regular clients and includes face painting, bouncy Castle, burghers, candy floss and lots more family friendly activities.  The Band plays a light Christmas theme programme and enter into the fun of the evening.

Christmas Night Market

Friday night in the Square with delicious aromas from ethnic food stalls. A steady stream of people checking out the craft stalls and a band playing a light Christmas music!  Sounds good! We enjoyed it

New Brighton Christmas Parade

Santa at the Beach!  And all the Community out to welcome Him! It seems every group in the New Brighton Community has a float or is otherwise involved in the parade and the streets are lined with lots of eager young faces. We get to lead the parade after the Fire Engine! This Parade, along with ANZAC Day are the only regular occasions for us to be a marching band. Fortunately those skills are deeply embedded in our banding tradition.

All Saints Burwood Nine Readings and Carols

For many decades the bandhas supported St Faiths Church in New Brighton with this service but the earthquake toll has moved the service to the main Parish Church in Burwood.  The Band provided  the accompaniment for the carols and our bass player, Nadine, is a very fine soprano and her rendition of ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Once in Royal David’s City’  was a highlight

Packe Street Party

Packe Street is a community garden run by the St Albans Community. We combined once again with the St Albans Choir to provide the musical segment of the entertainment with a couple of brackets of  Christmas music and a Carol sing along. Played under the trees in the lovely garden with lots of shared food and happy children it was capped off with the appearance of Santa with a large bag of lollies.

Weka Pass Railways

Well this is a new event for the Band this year. The Band was asked to play for the newly revamped Christmas Trains which have been run over the last 2-3 years by the Weka Pass Railway. The Band was located up at Waikari and put to work playing for the arrival of the Steam-hauled ‘Christmas Special’ train with carols and Xmas music alike – some accompanied by our friends from the St Albans Community Choir, who sang on the train on the way up to Waikari. It was a great day with 2 sold out trains of about 400 people, and something new and different for the Band to experience this Christmas season.