Click to enlarge
Cpl Richie Richmond on Bass Drum during a performance as the NZ Army Band plays amongst the crowd.

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The NZ Army Band perform the haka.

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

29 November 2007

NZ ARMY BAND TO BRING CHRISTMAS CHEER

The NZ Army Band will help kick off the holiday season in Wellington on Tuesday, 4 December in their last major concert for the year.

The event, “Christmas Cheer with the NZ Army Band”, will be held at 7pm at the Michael Fowler Centre and will feature for the first time a multi-media element with images and video.

It is also the first time the band will perform a Christmas concert like this one for over 20 years.
The band are fresh from a successful European tour to Switzerland and Modena, Italy where they were acclaimed the best band at the International Military Tattoo for musicianship, drill and audience appreciation.

Established in 1964 and essentially a Brass Band, the Army Band has also added a complete rhythm section allowing the band to widen their repertoire and play modern music.

NZ Army Director of Music Captain Leanne Smith says the evening concert will have something for everyone,
“The concert will show through music and performance what the NZ Army is all about.
“We’re not the usual ‘stiff upper lip’ marching melody band people might be used to. We take the approach of playing music to entertain, it’s a lot of fun and there’s plenty of audience interaction.”

“Christmas Cheer” will play a variety of music including brass band works, big band standards, a sample of Christmas songs and well-known pop and rock tunes.

The concert will feature well-known Wellington singer Lisa Tomlins as guest vocalist.

ENDS

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