NZ Concert Band Festival

In August the Wellington Symphonic Bands - Wellington City Concert Band and the Capital City Wind Band - are competing for the first time in the NZ Concert Band Festival in Whangarei. We'll compete against other bands from around NZ and take part in workshops.

This Boosted Campaign is to raise money to help those members of the band who are unable to afford the full cost of taking part in the Festival. The costs include airfares to Auckland, bus fares from Auckland to Whangarei including the transport of instruments, and accommodation in Whangarei.

Thanks for your support!

About the Wellington City Concert Band (WCCB)
The WCCB provides opportunities for woodwind, brass and percussion players of all ages with intermediate (grade 5+) to advanced skills. Players currently range from college students to 70 year old members. The band is very accepting of players with disabilities and at least 3 players, including our fabulous piccolo player Julia who's guide dog Kerry is also part of the band. Developing young people is an important element of the band's culture.

WCCB was founded 6 years ago and has grown from 10 to more than 55 players and is now good enough to play in New Zealand festivals and competitions. Last year we were thrilled to win the prize for the best performance of a piece at the 2016 Wellington Band and Orchestra (WeBO) Festival. New Zealand adjudicator Doctor Rich Roberts said: "Exceptionally fine, one of the best performances I have ever heard of this piece (El Camino Real)".

The band focuses on the concert band repertoire including marches, symphonic pieces and more popular works including jazz big band repertoire. The conductor is Simon Brew who is a brilliant professional saxophonist, conductor and also Director of Music for the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band.

To hear more of our performances visit:

https://youtu.be/Zk-DdC8Pvuc

https://youtu.be/zo1UJSmLrqA 

Capital City Wind Band (CCWB)
The Capital City Wind Band has grown out of the WCCB Foundation Band to become an all-comers band for beginners to intermediate players (grades 3 to 6) of all ages. The band gives players the opportunity to play a variety of music from arrangements of classics and popular music to music from shows and easier concert band pieces. The conductor is Mike Ashton who has a wealth of experience conducting and playing in bands in NZ and overseas.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LktBE7bTGSU]