THE National Band of New Zealand has toured the world, performed at events like the Queen\u2019s Coronation, and with the New York Philharmonic and the New Zealand Symphony orchestras, and now they\u2019re coming to Bendigo!<\/p>\n
As part the Band\u2019s first time across the ditch, the ensemble is playing six shows in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, including Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the National Band\u2019s first time that they\u2019ve ever been to Australia,\u201d said musical director and principal trombonist David Bremner.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been in existence for about 70 years and toured all around the world, but strangely never been to Aussie.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s a little odd, but we\u2019re very excited to be coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
The band is made of amateur musicians from across New Zealand and the current make up was selected at the end of last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey come from all walks of life, and the opportunity to go on tour like this is very, very special for them because they don\u2019t expect it,\u201d Bremner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t take it for granted, and so the opportunity to go and play in these wonderful halls across Australia is just going to be a real joy for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since the selection, Bremner said the musicians are expected to have been practicing hard, so that when they come together for the first time at the end of this month, the program can be refined in just two-and-a-half days.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re dealing with really very fine musicians, and I know that they\u2019ll be up for the challenge and it\u2019s just going to be wonderful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The band of about 35 tends towards classical rather than jazz, said Bremner, although the latter is fun when they do play it, and there will be a mix of the genres at the Australia concerts.<\/p>\n
The program will include pieces by Berlioz, John Adams, and jazz, folk, and big band pieces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a wonderful soloist Phil Cobb who\u2019s touring with us, and he\u2019ll be wowing the audience with his solos, so something for everyone really,\u201d Bremner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything that we do, we sort of try to pick music that not only would be enjoyable to listen to but also is hard for us to play and so it\u2019s a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Band of New Zealand will be coming to perform at the Ulumbarra on Sunday 3 September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE National Band of New Zealand has toured the world, performed at events like the Queen\u2019s Coronation, and with the New York Philharmonic and the New Zealand Symphony orchestras, and now they\u2019re coming to Bendigo! As part the Band\u2019s first time across the ditch, the ensemble is playing six shows in Victoria, New South Wales, […]<\/p>\n