Auckland’s North Shore Brass recently gave a special concert at the city’s Birkenhead College Theatre featuring special guest Professor David King.

First class

A near capacity audience thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon’s entertainment, with the first half of the event seeing the band conducted by Musical Director, Colin Clark accompanying Professor King in the sultry cornet solo ‘Por Una Cabasa’, as well as John Ireland’s mesmerising ‘Love Unknown’ and a beautiful interpretation of ‘Over the Rainbow’.

Thrill

Former North Shore MD Brent Large told 4BR: "What a thrill it was to hear David King on cornet. He has a lovely ‘English’ sound that sends shivers down your spine."

Not to be outdone, North Shore’s soprano cornet champion Kerry Wood injected some light-hearted entertainment with ‘Bubbles was a Cheerleader’, originally arranged for soprano cornet legend Peter Roberts.

Baton

After the interval Professor King took up the baton and led the band in music from the recently released Brighouse & Rastrick CD, ‘War of the Worlds’, featuring the music of Professor Peter Graham.

The opening ‘Phoenix’ was followed by ‘With Fire and Sword’ and ‘Chiquillin De Bachin’, which was introduced by Professor King reading a poem about a hungry waif that inspired the composition.

Treat

A special treat was ‘Lady Stewart's Air’, dedicated to Adrienne, Lady Stewart, who is a renowned patron of the arts in New Zealand.

A spokesperson told 4BR: "North Shore Brass performed brilliantly and Professor King acknowledged the excellent work of Colin Clark and the band in preparing the programme prior to his arrival."

In June, North Shore’s conductor Colin Clark was chosen to be the first recipient of a conducting bursary under the programme4BR

Rock star

Described by the organisers as one of the banding world’s ‘rock stars’, Professor King was visiting New Zealand as part of an innovative bursary programme initiated by Adrienne, Lady Stewart.

In June, North Shore’s conductor Colin Clark was chosen to be the first recipient of a conducting bursary under the programme.