North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand

Musical Director: Claudia Price.

OVER THIRTY YEARS OLD AND GROWING BETTER WITH AGE – LIKE A FINE WINE!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY IN A CONCERT BAND?

We are looking for players all the time. At the moment we are looking mainly for percussionists, trombonists and sax players, but everyone, and we mean EVERYONE is welcome!

So what is a Concert Band?

The modern Concert Band is a development of the American Military Band of the Second World War, and is essentially an orchestra without the strings, although Double-Bass players are also welcome! The instruments include Flutes, Clarinets, Oboes, Bassoons, Trumpets, Trombones, Baritones, Horns, Tubas, Saxophones and Percussion.

It all started when the late, great Big-Band director Glen Miller (and everyone knows him!) was drafted into the Army during World War II, as Major G. Miller, Bandmaster. He had been instructed by his immediate superior (a very straight-laced Colonel) to play only marches during the march-past under pain of death! Miller stood it for as long as he could, but then finally could not take it any more. In the middle of a very important parade, and right in the middle of the march-past, he made – as they say in the forces – a Command Decision, brought the current march to an end, and instructed his band to get out one of his most famous arrangements. To the delight of the whole parade the band suddenly broke into a beautiful march version of 'St Louis Blues', and this was in the days when jazz was king! The platoons were almost swinging by the podium and there was a delighted grin on every face as the wonderful music poured out! The salutes had never been given with such aplomb!

Of course, after the parade, the Colonel hauled Miller into his office and was just about to start tearing strips off him, which would probably have led to Miller's court-marshal (!!!) when the General who had taken the salute entered.

"Who authorized the jazz for the parade!" he asked.

"Major Miller sir!" shouted the Colonel.

He was just getting ready to open up when the General cried, "Well done Major Miller! That was one of the most delightful parades I have ever taken! We'll continue to have that sort of music!"

(For the full story, see the film: 'The Glen Miller Story' starring James Stewart)

And the rest, as they say, is history! The Concert Band was up and running, and is now part of the musical backdrop of the world.

The Concert Band has a far wider range than the Brass Band, and has a mellower tone. It can play anything from rock to classical and everything in between. It is also very versatile, as it can play indoors or out, on podiums, stages, and even on the ground! We have played at MOTAT, The Playhouse Theatre in Blockhouse Bay, the Pumphouse in Takapuna, in several shopping centres, and have an annual performance in February in the Northcote Shopping Centre, and during Christmas at the great Farmer's Christmas Parade (in the middle of Auckland Central's Customs St/Queen St Intersection – in the middle of the road!) and the Takapuna Christmas Festival.

And by the way – we actually play a version of 'St Louis Blues' as performed by the band on that fateful day which changed the course of musical history!

The North Shore Concert Band rehearses in the auditorium of Birkinhead College every Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm, and everyone, whatever you play, is welcome! Any more information, please contact your web master and concert master, Steve Dale

Our next public playout is the annual attendance at the Farmer's Christmas Parade on the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets in Auckland City. See you there!

And now some past pics:

At the 2006 Concert Bands Contest where we won Two Silver Medals!

at the 2007 Farmers Christmas Parade.

at 2008's Pumphouse Concert, and...

...with our guests the North Shore Camerata, joining with us in the grand finale:

Disney at the Movies!

Information for our coming playouts is HERE

NORTH SHORE CONCERT BAND –

WHERE MUSIC IS MADE!