ANZAC Remembered

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PRESS / RADIO - 7 APRIL 2009

ANZAC Remembered

Woolston Brass and the New Zealand Army Band combine at 2pm on Saturday 25th April in the Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium to commemorate the ANZAC spirit in a special celebration. Featuring favourities from across the years and old wartime sing-a-longs, this concert salutes the heritage of ANZAC DAY with military ceremony, patriotism and nostalgia.

Compere and guest sing-a-long vocalist for the concert is well known Christchurch identity Mark Hadlow. In a unique twist, both bands will be conducted by New Zealand Army Band Warrant Officers. Dwayne Bloomfield is currently the Bandmaster of the NZ Army Band, while Graham Hickman is in his third year as Music Director of Woolston Brass.

Highlight of the afternoon will be the 'world premiere' of Dwayne Bloomfield's PASSCHENDAELE , composed in remembrance of the World War One Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium during which New Zealand suffered the greatest loss of life in its military history. Warrant Officer Bloomfield notes -

" I like to compose descriptive music, and with Passchendaele I've taken the audience on a musical journey through the battle and its aftermath." A copy of the music score of this new work will be presented at the concert, to Mr Freddy Declerck, President of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917.

The programme also includes two new songs from the NZ Army Band:

'Poppy and Pohutukawa' is a poignant song based on a poem by Vietnam Veteran Chris Mullane, and reflects on the influence Flanders Field had on the shaping of New Zealand as a young nation. The 'New Zealand Soldier Song' is a powerfully patriotic song for the modern soldier and was recently designated as the official song of the New Zealand Army.

Such songs as " We are the Boys / Maori Battalion / Bless Em All / Behold the Narrows " will provide for memories of years ago.

Woolston Brass last year won the coveted 'Band of the Year' award at the NZ National Brass Band Championships and then went on to win both events at the inaugural Australasian Brass Band Open Championships held in Australia last October. President Tony Lewis said " what an exciting combination of the 'iconic' Woolston Brass of Christchurch, and the NZ Army Band as one of the finest marching bands in the world - on stage together on such an important public occasion celebrated with invited dignitaries from overseas."

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