Hawke's Bay Concord band wins national gold

The already acclaimed Lindisfarne College and Hastings Girls' High School combined Concord Symphonic Band have achieved a gold award at the national festival.
Held in New Plymouth, the New Zealand National Concert Bands Festival featured more than 100 bands and solo artists from high schools around the country over last weekend.
The Concord Symphonic Band conducted by Lindisfarne College director of music John Snowling received a coveted gold award.
Lindisfarne flautist Marcus Jackson also won a gold award for his solo performance, and the Concord Percussion Ensemble, coached by Dennis Maunder and conducted by Lindisfarne student Brooks Kershaw, received a silver award for their performance in the ensemble section.
The same award was also won by the Concord Concert Band conducted by head of music at Lindisfarne College Matthew Wood, and silver was also awarded to Brooks for his solo rendition of Autumn Leaves on the saxophone.
Other local bands that fared well at the festival were the community-based Bay Cities Symphonic Band conducted by Mr Snowling, which received a gold award, and the Napier Technical Memorial Band under the baton of Jane Stone received silver.