National Secondary Schools Brass Band of New Zealand

2005

A course to remember: the rucksacks and holdalls were being carelessly dragged across the mud; the contrast of hugging and shuffling shyness between teenagers was noticeable.

Quite literally, this year's National Secondary Schools Brass Band of New Zealand was in the middle of nowhere in the ‘Chosen Valley Christian Camp'. Since the bands inception Nigel Weeks has been course director, this year it was my husband, Simon Kerwin.

Simon Kerwin, the 2005 conductor of the NSSBBC

In the run up to the course, Simon and the Course Manager, Jennifer Carey travelled the length and breadth of the North and South Islands of New Zealand to select members for this prestigious band. And so after weeks of preparation, the sixty members met up for a week's intensive music making.

The instrumental tutors for this years course, were myself on upper cornets, NZ Band Stalwart Ian Levien with the lower cornets, Steve Packer from the New Zealand Navy Band looked after the euphoniums and baritones, ex-Sun Life player Andy Williams coached the horns and trombone superstar David Bremner from the NZSO was tutor for the trombones. Simon Kerwin arranged an informal tutors concert for the students and it proved to be a massive success and fun for both tutors and youngsters. David Bremner performed Simon's fiendishly difficult arrangement of Carnival of Venice, I played The Flamenco on the trumpet and Andy Williams gave a moving account of Apres Un Reve.

Tutors can play too!

The age range of this years band was from 11 to 18 and this years principal cornet was Thomas Eaves who in addition to his fabulous cornet playing and leadership skills is one of NZ's most promising basketball players. Thomas was featured in the Goedicke Concert Study and Torstein Agaard Nilsen's arrangement of Vitae Lux together with promising soprano player, Katie Blair.

Tenor horns in deep concentration.

The band played one public concert and two special concerts at two of Auckland's High Schools. After hearing the standard of his players at the Nationwide auditions, Simon chose a very demanding programme, including works such as Peter Graham's ‘The Red Machine' and Simon's own original work, ‘Galdhopiggen' which was a New Zealand premiere performance. I was delighted to be guest soloist at the public concert and I performed Ray Farr's arrangement of Gethsemane and Simon Kerwin's arrangement of Slavische Fantasie.

NSSBBC in concert.

David Bremner and Simon Kerwin both delivered top class masterclasses, which no doubt inspired all to practice more and they made sure that the students kept the mantle of ‘remember this is fun!' It was an uplifting moment to see the students' awe-inspired faces, they were a special bunch of people and their behaviour was impeccable throughout the course. They were a credit to their parents and bands.

The youngsters were able to take part in outdoor activities and a talent quest, although most time was spent in the band room!

Outdoor activities

There were many tears of sadness as the players and tutors bid farewell to each other but on the other hand we all realised that we had made firm friends and like all brass banders know, you make friends for life in this movement.

Alexandra Kerwin
August 2005