Recent Events
Crossway Community Church Concert
The band played a Christmas Concert at the Crossways Community Church on the 29th December.This concert featured some very talented soloists from the band with Kevin McMorran playing Aye Waukin' O!, Steve Griffin playing an arrangement of Slaviche Fantasia , and Jess Hix on the marimba entertaining the audience with an exciting Goff Richards number called Zimba Zamba. The full and enthusiastic audience was very appreciative of the performance of the Band with requests to perform further Christmas Concerts next year. This was the first concert under our new musical director Tyme Marsters which has provided us with a great springboard to start off in a new direction.
Santa Parade
On December 6th the Band led the annual Santa Parade marching in front of over 100,000 people. The excitement and enthusiasim from the crowd was felt throughout the band and we are proud to still be the only Christchurch Brass Band who march in this parade. Led by our Drum Major (and Musical Director) Tyme Marsters the band stepped off to a lively march called Appreciation. The crowd showed their enjoyment the entire way and were equally impressed by the excellent percussion breaks between Snoopy's Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock.
Woolston Club
Sunday the 13th December saw the band put on the annual Christmas Concert at the Woolston Club. We played to a full house with many joining in with the Christmas Carols led by compere and vocalist Brian Eckersley. Brian went on to entertain the crowd with Butch Green's arrangement of "Mack the Knife" before bringing the house down with "You'll never walk alone".
Funding
The band has had further funding success with a grant from the Lion Foundation for another new timpani. A grant from Youthtown Inc will enable our percussion section to be given new personalised mallets and sticks to use.
Looking ahead
After some tough times over the last few years the Band is experiencing a period of rejuvenation with many new members joining and some old hands returning. Goals for next year include attending the National contest in Dunedin, the provincial contest in Christchurch, together with the re-establishment of a concert series.
