17 April 2012

ANZAC Affair for NZ Army Band

It will be a truly Anzac affair when the NZ Army band performs with the Australian Army band at Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

Army band member Lance Corporal Mike Chesnutt is one of eight members of the NZ Army band that will represent New Zealand at the Anzac Day services at Gallipoli in Turkey. He will be playing the euphonium, a brass instrument like a tuba.

LCPL Chesnutt, grew up in Gisborne, attended Gisborne Boys High School and joined the Army band in 1995 and plays the trombone. He has travelled to numerous countries with the Army band but says his career highlight was performing at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

However, playing at Gallipoli will also be a highlight. LCPL Chesnutt says, “It is a great honour to be chosen to represent New Zealand at such an important event. We will be performing to a crowd of around 10,000 people at the Dawn Service which will be an experience of a life time.”

The official New Zealand contingent travelling to Gallipoli includes the Vice Chief of Defence Force, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, and a small group of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel including an Army chaplain, catafalque guard, and members of the NZ Army Band.

The Anzac Day ceremonies in Gallipoli begin on Saturday 24 April with the Turkish International Service and conclude with the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair on 25 April. The services will be attended by dignitaries from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey.

ENDS