RNZAF conductor brings band home

Hamilton-born conductor Flight Lieutenant Simon Brew is conducting the Air Force Band at the Clarence Street Theatre.

The Air Force Band is winging its way to Hamilton this month, before headlining the 2017 Air Tattoo at Ohakea.

Flight Lieutenant Simon Brew, who has led the band on numerous successful international and nationwide tours, including performances at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, will conduct the evening concert on Wednesday, February 22, at 7pm at the Clarence Street Theatre as part of a four-city tour.

Flight Lieutenant Brew has been conducting the Air Force Band for four years, one of the most prestigious conducting jobs in the country.

Flight Lieutenant Brew was born in Hamilton, grew up in Hamilton East and attended Marian School and St John's College.

His parents sent him to recorder lessons as a six-year-old at the Saturday morning music classes at Hamilton Boys' High School, leading to a career in music.

He was a soloist in musical theatre productions during his teens at Music Makers in Hamilton performing in Oliver Twist, The Sound of Music and Fiddler on the Roof.

Flight Lieutenant Brew sang in the Waikato Youth Choir and played saxophone in the Waikato Concert Band, even touring Europe with them.

At 18 he headed to Massey University in Wellington to study classical saxophone, before completing his masters at Victoria University in Wellington, then studying further in the Netherlands.

He has played saxophone with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

He can't wait to bring the RNZAF Band to his hometown for the first time since he has been in charge.

"One of my goals has been to bring our full-piece 65 strong symphonic band of wind, brass and percussionists to Hamilton," says Flight Lieutenant Brew, who will also play a saxophone solo during the concert.

He says it's a treat to play in his hometown where his family, who are strong supporters of his music, can attend one of his concerts without having to travel.

"I've led the band overseas in Singapore and at Gallipoli, but it will be a real thrill to bring the Air Force Band to Hamilton," he says.

Hamilton is the second to last stop of a central North Island mission, before the band switches to drill work ahead of the 2017 Air Tattoo at Ohakea, marking the air force's 80th anniversary.

The lively evening concert has something for all ages from popular classics and show tunes, to the latest hits from the movies.

There's even time for a tango when Flight Lieutenant Brew swaps his baton for saxophone to play a solo by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla.

"We make sure people enjoy the show by incorporating some of the best music around and having top soloists," Flight Lieutenant Brew says.

"Last year we performed to 80,000 at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and now we're touring again. We can't wait to get underway."

Champion piper and Queen's Service Medal recipient Flight Sergeant Murray Mansfield will play traditional The Gael.

Singer Kirsten Te Rito will perform jazz standards by Etta James.

Other highlights are Alfred Reed's Armenian Dances, excerpts from Lord of the Rings Symphony No 1, and the very popular Thunderbirds March.