Chance to hear and learn from top player

SAX SYMBOL: Top NZ saxophonist Simon Brew will appear with the Gisborne Concert Band in a concert on Sunday.

The Gisborne Concert Band’s musicianship will not only be richer for workshops with internationally renowned saxophonist and conductor, Simon Brew this weekend, the band will perform with him on Sunday.

While in Gisborne, the NZ Saxophone Society president will hold individual lessons on saxophone and work with the Gisborne Concert Jaybees (Junior Band) and Gisborne Concert Band.

“Having Simon working with the two bands will expose our musicians to a different conducting style and will challenge their interpretation of his conducting, but will develop their abilities to work under different musician directors,” says the concert band’s acting president Judy Livingston.

The GCB will hold a concert on Sunday, in which Brew will showcase his saxophone talents.

The Sunday concert programme is yet to be finalised but could include pieces such as Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Van Morrison’s Moondance, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Two new musical directors, Graeme Dearness and Micah Russell, have taken over from former GCB musical director Chris Reynolds who is now busier than ever with teaching and instrument repair.

Russell is a young musician who grew up with the concert band and now conducts the junior band. He, Morgan Kibble and Robbie Hall play in the NZ Youth Symphonic Winds, and performed under Brew’s baton last year.

They will join 40 youth musicians for concerts later in the year.

The Gisborne Concert Band concert with Simon Brew, St Andrew’s Church on Sunday at 2pm. Tickets at the door, adults $10, U12s a gold coin.