Author Archives: feildingbrass

Nationals in Hamilton – July 2019

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Feilding Brass in the warm up room prior to going on stage.

July 12 & 13 saw Feilding Brass participate in the 2019 New Zealand Brass Band Championships which was held in Hamilton.

It has been 6 years since the band attended a National contest, and it was the first one that Musical Director Carissa Davies has taken the band to, so was a very proud moment for her.

On Friday 12th July the band played the Hymn “Mid All The Traffic” and set Test Piece “Penlee”, on day one of the C Grade competition at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton.

During the days leading up to and during the contest, the weather was not playing very nicely and due to the ongoing rain, the organisers decided to call off the traditional Street March part of the competition.

However, since the Claudelands Event Centre is so huge they decided to have an impromptu  “Indoor Parade of Bands” to those bands that wanted to have a march, which would not be judged. So around 7 bands including the visiting Chicago Brass Band from USA took up the offer, which pleased the public.

On Saturday 13th July, Feilding Brass played their Own Choice test music “Dark Side Of The Moon” which was well received in the auditorium, and the band came off stage feeling very proud of what we had played.

Competition results for a band that has not competed at this level for 6 years, was a good result for the band. Feilding Brass came 3rd= in the Hymn, and 4th in the Test and Own Choice with an overall placing of 4th in New Zealand for the C Grade competition for 2019.

A great deal of thanks has to go to Carissa Davies and Stephen Lawton for steering the band in the right direction leading up to and during this National contest. The band appreciates the hard work behind the scenes that was put in to getting the band into contest mode and seeing it through.

As always, getting to competition is made easier with the support of local businesses to get us there, so the band would like to acknowledge the financial support of the above businesses for backing the band.

Our next competition will be the Central Districts Association Contest, which will be on Saturday August 31st & Sunday September 1st 2019 in Palmerston North, so we look forward to seeing you there. More information about the contest will come next month.
For more photos of Feilding Brass playing at the Nationals, please click on Gallery.

Would like to say a big thanks to Tim from Brassbanned for the live streaming of this event which allows for these great photo shots.

 

 

Off We Go!

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Today, members of Feilding Brass head up to Hamilton to compete in the C Grade section of the New Zealand Brass Band Championships 2019.

Months of hard work with practice, practice, practice will see the band competing on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July which will be live streamed on http://www.brassbanned.com

Behind the scenes our MD Carissa Davies has done alot of work getting the band prepared for this competition and we are very grateful for what she has done.

The 2 band events that Feilding Brass is in on Friday start at 9am and 12.30pm, and the one on Saturday starts at 10am. Click on the pictures below for details.

A light hearted event was held last Friday when MD Carissa and Eb Bass player were on Manawatu 92.2 More Fm radio station talking about the band and upcoming contest, and having a bit of a tune on the Tuba. Was a lot of fun.

For a small town band going to a National Contest not only is a big commitment from band members musically, but also financially. So Feilding Brass would like to acknowledge and thank the following businesses for their support of our band to help us get to the Nationals.

We look forward to sharing our results with you, and wish to thank you all for your support of Feilding Brass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feilding Brass Car Sticker ***FUNDRAISER***

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Feilding Brass has a new fundraising opportunity, which allows you to support our band and have something cool on your car.

For just $10 you can get a Feilding Brass Car Sticker, and all proceeds go directly to the band.

Go to our TradeMe page Feilding Brass Car Sticker – Trade Me and secure yours today.

Thank you for your support of our awesome band.

17 Days to Go!

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With just 17 days to go, contest preparations are full steam ahead as we go through the final touches of Penlee and our other contest pieces.

Our Musical Director Carissa Davies has been working hard in front of the band and behind the scenes to organise, prepare, and lead as we get closer to contest day.

Carissa, the band really appreciates your dedication and commitment to getting us all ship shape so we can do Feilding proud and indeed ourselves proud in Hamilton.

On the marching front, our Drum Major Stephen Lawton has been busy with the band getting us street ready for the Street March section of the National Contest.

A man with many years of experience leading us down the right path of “covering and dressing, march behind the person in front, mark time, knees up, don’t look around!”

Windy or cold, we went out marching to the beat of Steve, and we are all the better for your knowledge and experience so thank you. PS. Happy birthday young man.

As we get closer to the Contest, its good to remember that with the guidance from Carissa and Stephen, a band is not a band without players. Behind all these stands are musicians that come together to have fun, be serious and enjoy playing music.

That is what makes Feilding Brass, a great band to be a part of.

National Contest is just around the corner and we look forward to maybe seeing you there, but if not hope you can watch it live on https://www.brassbanned.com/

You can contact Feilding Brass via:

feildingbrass@gmail.com
P.O. Box 158 Feilding
027 357 9194

or send us a message on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

In The Zone

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May and June, sees Feilding Brass rehearsing solidly for the 2019 New Zealand Brass Band Championships being held in Hamilton this year from the 10th-14th July.

Feilding Brass will be competing in the C Grade section alongside equally capable bands in an event which will see over 25 bands from around NZ playing in grades A-D.

As with any national contest, it consists of Solo and party events starting on Wednesday 10th July, leading up to the band events on the Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July.

On the Friday, bands will play their Sacred Item and Test piece. The test piece for each grade is set by the association so the adjudicator has to listen to many renditions of the same piece to find the one who played the best. Also on this day will be the parade of bands where competing bands will march through the Hamilton streets.

On the Saturday, bands will play their Own Choice piece which each band can choose to best bring out their skills and music-ship.

On the Sunday, there will be a Gala Concert – Featuring Chicago Brass Band, Hamilton City Brass & Guest Soloists Harmen Vanhoorne, Trevor Bremner and Murray Borthwick.

For more information about the contest, times etc, click the link http://brasschamps2019.nz/contest-information

This years Test Piece is called Penlee. It is written about a lifeboat disaster in which 16 people died off the Cornwall Coast in 1981. Click on the link to see Drogheda Brass Band from Ireland playing it onstage. Penlee

This year, the adjudicator for the C Grade competition is Graham Hickman, who started his brass band career in Feilding.

As like last year, this years contest is being live streamed by Brassbanned , so you will be able to see all the action if you can’t be there.

As you can imagine our Musical Director and Drum Major are busily getting Feilding Brass into shape with Wednesday and Sunday rehearsals with every player digging deep to get things done. If you hear us around town making noises, its ok. We will be having marching practice at the old WritePrice supermarket carpark, weather permitting.

The band wishes to acknowledge the support we get from family of our players as contest rehearsal takes up a bit of family time, but is much appreciated as we go and represent the Manawatu at a National level.

The countdown continues…..

You can contact Feilding Brass via:

feildingbrass@gmail.com
P.O. Box 158 Feilding
027 357 9194

or send us a message on our Facebook page.

Feilding Festival of Bands (2019)

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Feilding Brass wishes to advise, that Feilding Festival of Bands is not being held this year.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2020, where it will be the 25th festival that the band has run, and looks to be an exciting event to be a part of.

 

We Will Remember Them

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On the morning of 25th April 2019, Feilding Brass took up its position in Feilding and two other services in the wider community as we all came together to remember the sacrifice our soldiers made all those years ago, on this ANZAC Day.

At 6.30am Feilding Brass with past and present service personnel marched down to the Feilding cenotaph where Feilding residents turned out  to the dawn parade, with many community groups laying wreaths at the cenotaph as the band played hymns.

Cornet player Russell Schwartfeger had the honour this year of playing the Last Post.

At 9.30am Feilding Brass lead the returned services personnel at the Sanson service. Ex band member Peter Hales played The Last Post. We all then retired to the Sanson School Hall as their ANZAC Day civic service continued.

Feilding Brass’ third and final parade for the day was at Ashhurst where the band lead the returned service personnel at 12pm to the Ashhurst cenotaph for their civic service.

During the service, the band played hymns as wreaths were being laid and Russell once again played The Last Post. Feilding Brass then formed back up and lead the troops back to the Ashhurst RSA, for a well deserved rest.

The band continues to serve the community, and we are honoured to be a part of Feilding, Sanson and Ashhurst as we commemorate ANZAC Day. Lest We Forget.

 

Brass In The Park

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March 24, saw the first official gig of 2019 for Feilding Brass at Brass In The Park in Levin, hosted by Levin & Districts Brass Band. This included performances by Levin & Districts Brass Band, Feilding Brass, Porirua Brass and Kapiti Brass throughout the afternoon.

Feilding Brass’ set included two vocal numbers by Steve Mackley, singing Mack The Knife and Carissa Davies singing And All That Jazz.

A great afternoon was had by everyone, and the weather was perfect for the occasion.

15 March 2019, New Zealand saw its darkest day, with the terrorist event that happened in Christchurch killing 50 people. Feilding Brass wishes to send its condolences to the families of the victims taken from them.

The Feilding community held a vigil at the clock tower on Monday 18 March, and Feilding Brass was asked to play hymns for half an hour leading up to this event. A very solemn and heart felt evening in the square from all that came together.

Due to the events in Christchurch, the Palmerston North Council decided to postpone the New Zealand Tattoo, which was to be held  on 12 & 13 April 2019 out of respect. Hopefully they will come up with another date at some stage.

With our hearts in our hands, we are one.

 

February’s Forte’

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February sees Feilding Brass in full swing, rehearsing for our first gig for 2019 which    is on Sunday 24th March as part of Brass In The Park, a free concert in Levin, hosted    by Levin & Districts Brass.

Starting at 12.30pm, the concert features Levin Centennial Concert Band,
Levin & Districts Brass, Feilding Brass, Trust Porirua City Brass and
Kapiti Brass.

This will truly be an afternoon of wonderful brass playing full of entertaining music.

Feilding Training Band started up on 11th February, and have 3 new learners who have joined the group which is a great sight to see. One of which is learning the drum kit, so Steve better look out. He has competition now. It’s great to see Senior band members coming along to help out and guiding the learners during practise.

Also on our radar is the New Zealand Tattoo being held in Palmerston North on the 12th & 13th April,  which Feilding Brass is participating in.  Playing alongside such great bands as The NZ Army Band, Brass Wanganui and Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and others, this is going to be an amazing experience for everyone.

Watch this space.

Tickets are available at www.nztattoo.nz

 

The New Year Begins

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On January 30th, at our bandroom Feilding Brass started practise for the new year ahead, blowing out the cobwebs with a few new pieces donated to the band and others to get our lips back into shape.

With Carissa and Stephen at the helm, and a new year planned with exciting activities, along with our regular community events, we will be a very busy band, and look forward to seeing you at them.

Watch this space!

Feilding Brass Training Band starts back up on Monday 11th February 2019 at 5pm at the bandroom, so if you know of anyone who would like to learn a brass instrument come along and have a chat with the Training Band conductor, Catherine Duxfield.

2018 was a good year for Feilding Brass, and we have put together a slideshow of our events.