The Trusts Waitakere Brass Band - New Zealand
Principals
Music Director |
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Hailing from the UK, Steven began his conducting career at the age of 15 with a junior band, and soon progressed on very successfully to senior bands, having many contest successes. Following his move to New Zealand Steven was appointed Resident Musical Director of the Dalewool Band, and is now the Professional Conductor of The Trusts Waitakere Brass. Steven's philosophy is that banding has to be enjoyable, especially when some of the members travel nearly 2 hours each way to band for every single rehearsal. He also believes it is very important that, while the band improves technically, audiences want to listen to them and enjoy the music they play. This is an important factor in his choice of programming. |
Principal Cornet |
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Leon has recently joined the band on Principal cornet. His track record is impressive with names like YBS (UK), Leyland (UK), Sellers (UK) GUS (UK) and numerous other top UK bands under his belt. Leon has won every major contest in the UK on Principal Cornet. Leon's interests include mountain biking, architecture, the end of the fermentation process. Employed as a freelance IT consultant Leon's ambition in banding and out is to be happy with my life and friends. He states that his greatest
achievement is touching 190MPH on his Ducati and living to tell about it. His biggest disappointment ... not reaching 200. |
Soprano Cornet |
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Fendall started his brass career in the Waitakere (New Lynn) band at the age of 7. He was taught by his father, the Rev. Tom Hill, who conducted the band from 1970 to 1984. Fendall played cornet, then soprano cornet as the band won the C, then the B grade, and he 'retired' for the first time after winning the A grade set test and hymn with the band in 1987. Fendall has since returned intermittently to assist the band, but has recently rejoined. He has also been in NZ National Youth Bands and is the 2005 Soprano Cornet Champion. |
Flugelhorn |
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Solo Horn |
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Solo Baritone |
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Wayne originally heralds from Dunedin having played in most of the Dunedin bands most notably principal cornet for Kaikorai during their hey-days as a top B grade band. Moving to Auckland in the 90's and with short assisting stints with Dalewool, Auckland City, and Artillery, Wayne took a 5 year playing hiatus, before moving to Wellington, and joining a struggling Wellington Brass as their principal cornet. During that time Wayne managed Wellington Brass through the financially tough period of rebuilding its bandroom, securing corporate sponsorship, and recruiting musical directors and players in pursuit of building a champion band. A dab-hand at most things with valves (and occasionally a slide), including recently touring the South Island with a local Salvation Army Band as their guest Euphonium and Flugel soloist, Wayne accepted an invitation to assist Waitakere as their Principal Baritone. A thoroughly inadvisable move, given nothing gets past the champion Baritone in the middle.
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Solo Trombone |
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Despite his youthful appearance Stuart has been a member of the band for more than 25 years; having joined the New Lynn Citizens Auxiliary band in the late '70's on Bb cornet (but don't tell anyone). Having seen the light in 1983, Stuart changed to tenor trombone and hasn't looked back. Stuart was promoted to the senior band in 1984 and apart from 2 years living in London (1998 to 2000) he has held various positions in the section (except bass trombone) ever since. Stuart was made a life member of the band in 2005. Stuart is married to Georgina and they have a son Daniel and another baby on the way. As a soloist, Stuart won the Junior Tenor Trombone Championship in 1989 and he was also a member of the Open Trombone Trio champions that same year. When pushed for more recent results Stuart stated that he had "retired" from serious solo competition in 1989 while on top. Stuart has successfully auditioned for three National Youth Bands and was twice appointed as principal trombone. By day Stuart is a solicitor and works as an in-house legal advisor to one of New Zealand's Crown Research Institutes. |
Solo Euphonium |
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Bari comes to Waitakere from the Welsh Cwmanan Institue (Tower Colliery) Band. His playing career started on cornet with Pontardulais Town Junior Band aged 8 and despite several committed attempts to give up during his teenage years continued to play, moving on to play euphonium and baritone with West Glamorgan County brass band and Gowerton Comprehensive school band. After progressing to the Pontardulais Town Senior band on baritone in the early 1990's he won his first ever band contest was hooked on banding. Whilst studying Bari played for Championship Section Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda band before returning to Pontardulais Town as Principal Euphonium and then Principal Ebb Bass. Bari took the opportunity to enjoy his three main hobbies - rugby, bands and geology - and see some of the world and in August 2006 relocated to Auckland, New Zealand as a senior geologist with engineering consultants Connell Wagner. |
Solo Tuba |
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The 'other' Stu in the band is another UK import! He started playing tenor horn in his native Wales at the age of five, following in his fathers illustrious footsteps. At age 19, Stu moved onto Eb Bass where he is much more at home. A perfect balance of lungs & pipes! He was playing with the very successful Beaumaris band at the time, also in North Wales. |