Champion Marching Band
Drum Major Ron Abelson marched in front of the winning A Grade Marching Band on the North Shore on Saturday 7th July 2007.
Another successful Nationals for the Marlborough Band has seen several first places, as well as numerous other placings in the individual and ensemble events.
National titles went to Mike Ford (Open Tenor Horn) Hannah Cunningham 
(Junior Tenor Horn), Dave Mallet (Open Baritone), Erynne Scherf, Hannah Cunningham, David Moseley and Matt Patchett (Junior Quartet), Riki McDonnell (Open Slow Melody) Steven Moseley (Bb Bass), Ron Abelson (Champion Drum Major) and last but not least Kathy Moseley (Accompanist of the Year - well over due this was!!)
This is the list of first place getters. In my estimation of things, anyone who started in a solo or ensemble event is a champion!!
Harcourts Fund Raising night a real winner
The "Colonel" and his team at Harcourts Blenheim hosted a fundraiser which included an auction and an evening with the award winning author Allan Pease.
All of the auctioned items were donated by local businesses and the auction was led by John Davis and Kevin Moseley.
Both an entertaining and thoroughly humbling evening was enjoyed by an almost full house.
Almost $30 000 was raised during the evening, a result which left Kevin speechless, and for those that know Kevin, this was a feat in itself.
The band was overwhelmed by the generosity of our local community
The Kerwins
Image Supplied by The Marlborough Express
March 2007 has seen the departure of the Kerwin family from Marlborough and New Zealand, in what can only be described as a huge loss for music in New Zealand on so many levels
Not only have we lost world class players, but a composer, teacher, administrator and a wonderful family.
We wish the Kerwins good luck and much happiness where ever they end up.
NZ Youth Band
Image Supplied by The Marlborough Express
The National Youth Brass Band for 2007 was announced this weekend. 4 players from Marlborough District Brass were selected. David Moseley on 2nd Cornet, Stephen Moseley on Bass (BB), Aimee Beaumont on Percussion and Erynne Scherf on Flugel.
Both Aimee and David have been selected previously, but for Erynne and Stephen this is their first.
Two New Life Members Appointed
by Janie Stewart, The Marlborough Express.
Years spent devoted to music have earned recognition for Graham Moseley and John White.
The two men were awarded life membership of the Marlborough District Brass Band at its annual general meeting, a position which has to be voted on by the band committee.
Despite their long service, neither saw the accolade coming. It's one of the things that sits at the back of your mind but you don't expect it until it happens. It's certainly a great honour, when I think of some of the people who have been given the honour in the past,says Graham.
John was likewise surprised by the event, although he had a feeling something was going on when he arrived at the meeting.
The thing that gave it away a bit was my mum turning up. She never goes to AGMs.
Both men were delighted the life membership badge still said Blenheim Municipal Brass Band, which was what the band was called when they joined.
John says people awarded life membership have usually played a crucial role in performance and management outside of playing, a criteria both he and Graham fit.
Both men praised the family atmosphere of the band and the great people they have had around them as they climbed through its ranks.
Marlborough District Brass Band concert
Reviewed by Tessa Parker
The Variety Bandbox concert by the Marlborough District Brass Band was a potpourri of musical entertainment. It was more like Pandora's Box, because you never really knew what was coming next and it was certainly full of surprises!
From the opening curtain, we were enthralled with swirling mists, a caped Phantom of the Opera playing on a wonderfully constructed organ, smoothly moving staging, subtle lighting and classy dressing by the band, redolent of times gone by when women reveled in the femininity of ball gowns and men looked equally grand in tails and bow ties. It was a great opening!
Conductor Kevin Moseley said this concert was like getting married, with something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new. There was something new in the introduction of four sopranos who sang along with the band at times, adding another dimension to much of the music. The sopranos were Hillary Ellena, Brenda Davey, Pat Parkinson and Neroli Vallance.
From good old band classics to a delightful Strauss cocktail, a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Annie Laurie, by Riki MacDonnell, turned into a beautiful instrumental duet when Kevin joined in and the Marlborough Girls' and Boys' college choirs stirred our musical senses with their singing. It is always great to see young ones in the band and the choirs.
Other young ones performing were Hugh Mack on violin and Sam Logan on guitar, playing a superb accompaniment for Jacinta Nott as she sang a lovely arrangement of Over the Rainbow.
Variety abounded with Borodin's Polostvian Dances, Tales of Hoffman, Ravel's Bolero, bagpipes and humorous situations played to the max, but always spot on and never missing a musical beat, so to speak. Even a change of conductor as Nicola Moynihan took over her father's baton, while he sang along with several others in a My Fair Lady medley.
One can truly say there was an abundance of flair, fun and fine playing. But space doesn't allow a mention of everything and everyone. Suffice to day, it was a concert to delight one and all and those who were unable to attend missed out on a very special musical treat.
Top
ANZAC Concert a WINNER!!!
From beginning to end the Marlborough District Brass Band ANZAC Concert at the Marlborough Centre was an event of sheer enjoyment, and the theatre was nearly full on each of the performances, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
The vibrant musicality of the Band under the leadership and baton of Kevin Moseley extended through a varied and classy programme.
There was something for everyone!!
From rousing well known marches, to the haunting music of Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherezade”….and from the lovely pure notes of the soprano horn played by guest soloist Alexandra Kerwin to the fun duet of Cole Porter’s ‘Well did you evah” played by Ron Abelson and Jeff Mulraney…….
Then there was another duet…..by Robin Randall and Kevin Moseley no less!
This took us all by surprise, with Kevin showing musical ability in all spheres, - now singing, as well as instrumental playing and conducting!
Robin Randall performed a vocal solo with sophistication and pizzazz!....and Peter Bargh tickled our fancies with paper magic.
There was no end to the variety……the band played a number “Cartoon Music” that set us all back in our seats, because of its complexity, and fun, and it was amazing how they created so many sound effects.
A beautiful rendition of “Song of Hope” by soloist Alexandra Kerwin, brought a tear to one’s eye, but then, followed by the rousing and thrilling “Battle of Trafalgar” it was all excitement, explosions and gunfire!
Three Moseleys, Graham, David and Kevin, played a rousing number, Gavin Stead and Pam Logan compered the evening, and as the concert drew to a close, the band sang “The day thou gavest” quietly and gently harmonious, a lovely touch indeed.
One cannot do written justice to this evening of musical pleasure, as the band stirred our emotions at every turn.
We thank all of you who brought us such joy in your music!
Tessa Parker.
Top
