Combined Central Districts and Wellington Band Contest 2016

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On April 9th and 10th, 2016, Feilding is hosting 12 bands from the lower North Island in the biennial combined district brass band contest.

On Saturday each band performs a reflective item and test piece. This is held in the Feilding Civic Centre with the first band starting at 1pm and the last expected to finish around 6:30pm.

On Sunday the bands each perform a ‘concert program’, a 30 minute bracket with a wider variety of program choice and more emphasis on entertainment. This is also held in the Feilding Civic Centre, between 9am and 5pm, with a two hour gap from 11:30am.

Filling in that gap on Sunday is the march, where the bands play while marching down the street. This starts at 12.15 going down Eyre Street, weather permitting.

 

 

 

 

Feilding Festival 2015

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The 22nd Feilding Festival of Bands was held last Sunday, 14 June at the Feilding Civic Centre.We had a full-house of bands this year with 13 brass, wind, and school bands, adjudicated by Mark Carter.

Results in playing order:

  1. PNBHS Concert Band – Gold, Most Entertaining
  2. Concord Concert Band – Silver
  3. Levin Centennial Concert Band – Bronze
  4. Concord Symphonic Band – Gold
  5. Bay Cities’ Symphonic Band – Silver
  6. Combined Porirua – Masterton Youth Bands – Silver
  7. Napier Boys’ and Girls’ High School Concert Band – Gold
  8. Manawatu Concert Band – Gold, Runner-Up Most Entertaining, Runner-Up Soloist
  9. PNGHS Concert Band – Bronze
  10. Deco Bay Brass – Gold
  11. PNGHS Jazz Band – Silver, Best Soloist
  12. FAHS Feilding Orchestra – Silver
  13. Feilding Brass – Silver

A big thanks to Beggs MusicWorks Palmerston North for their support. Please do check out their shop at 56 Princess Street.

Mangaweka Bridge Opening

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Feilding Brass was proud to be a part of the official opening (postponed 111 years) of the Mangaweka Bridge Opening and Pioneer Day on March 7th. On a fine and warm day the band, doing their best to fit the period by being dressed in their marching uniforms, entertained the crowds as they prepared for the bridge opening and as the parade of vintage cars rolled past.

The program was a little unusual for Feilding Brass, with a collection of tunes popular or well known 100+ years ago, from the ever popular Jerusalem, through Londonderry Air, When Johnny Comes Marching Home, to the 1914 march (with Tipperary) and the timeless Instant Concert.

Combined with Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir

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It was a combination neither group had been a part of – brass band and Welsh ladies choir – but the end result was a wonderful Sunday afternoon of music at the Huia Centre in Palmerston North.

Our combined concert began with a bracket from Feilding Brass featuring six numbers. Once again Dan Griffiths on cornet wowed us with his silky rendition of a solo arrangement of Georgia on my Mind, and some rounded and resonant playing made for a soothing atmosphere in Hine e Hine.

The Geelong Welsh Ladies Choir performed nine pieces, singing with enthusiasm while being attentive to the subtleties of the music, and drawing the audience in as the mood became quieter. Highlights included the story-telling Shelter, and poignant So Far Away.

Finally the groups amassed together on-stage to perform Anthem from Chess, and Panis Angelicus, with the World in Union bringing the concert to a triumphant close.

Both groups thoroughly enjoyed the day and we hope the coming together of these two different kinds of musical group will remain a cherished memory for all involved.