New Zealand’s National Band is Back

New Zealand's effective approach to combating the Coronavirus outbreak has meant that the National Band of New Zealand have returned to full rehearsals. The 2020/21 Band met in Wellington for its first weekend of rehearsals under the direction of David Bremner, with 12 new members in its ranks. The band is currently preparing for its first public concert which will be held in Hamilton on Sunday 1st November.

The National Band, formed in 1953 for a concert tour of Great Britain where they successfully claimed the British Open Championships title is made from the very finest banding talent that New Zealand has to offer. Current Band Manager Garth Coffey spoke about the inaugural rehearsal in ‘The Mouthpiece’ stating, “We wish to extend our sincerest thanks to the Central Band of the New Zealand Airforce for the use of their excellent facilities and especially to FLTLT David Gallagher (former conductor of the National Band) and SGT Ben Robertson for their assistance. Thanks also to the Pelorus Trust for a grant and to Waitoa Bar on Victoria Street for meeting the band's other refreshment needs!"

Plans are now underway for the 2021 National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand course to be held in January 2021, with the band making concert appearances in Hamilton, Whakatane and North Shore.

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