Musical Director Steven Booth put together an entertaining programme of traditional and contemporary Christmas music, with the audience also being treated to several soloist items.

Soloists feature

Principal Cornet player Leon Renilson gave a rendition of ‘Away in a Manger’; Eb Bass player Jamie Mackay then showed his flexibility, swapping bass for voice, performing an unusual carol, ‘Three Kings’, accompanied by a sextet from the band.

The second half of the concert began with Principal Eb Bass player Stu Bennion amusing the audience with an unconventional presentation of ‘Frosty the Snowman’.

Eupho + Harp

A special feature was Euphonium player Sean Whyte’s performance of John Gollard’s ‘Peace’, accompanied by guest Harpist, 17-year-old Alex Kingaby. Alex then had the audience captivated with his harp playing in the solo ‘Watching the Wheat’.

Child Prodigy

The audience also enjoyed a performance from another guest soloist, Ten-year-old pianist Louise Burling. Louise wowed listeners with Berkovich’s ‘Variations on a theme of Paganini’ and ‘Jackson Street Blues’ by Martha Miers.

The audience joined in to finished the concert with some enthusiastic singing of Christmas carols.

The ‘Christmas Wishes’ concert provided the perfect ending for the year for The Trusts Waitakere Brass.