Mission Statement
We aim to promote the knowledge, love of music, and good fellowship among members of concert bands in NZ. We also assist in furthering musical education among concert bands and members of concert bands throughout NZ through encouraging and assisting the formation and progress of junior concert bands or learners’ classes.
We engage persons of recognized ability to undertake the coaching and training of concert band conductors and the general advancement of concert band music. Alongside this we advise and support new bands through mentoring, while promoting or assisting in the promotion and control of national and local concert band festivals, ensuring that all such festivals are conducted under a uniform set of regulations. We aim to produce and maintain a publication or digital platform promoting concert banding in NZ.
Focus Areas
New Zealand Concert Band Association is committed to facilitating and promoting multiple facets of the wind band community within New Zealand and these are our “focus areas” listed to the right.
NZCBA is particularly passionate about the journey of a musician from school education all the way through to adult learners , committed community band members, and professional musicians. This can be as a player, educator, conductor, or enthusiastic roadie who loves setting out chairs and stands. Starting at the youth development level, NZCBA provides performance opportunities for high-school aged musicians through the New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds.
NZCBA also facilitates workshops for conductors and music educators, lead by often world- renowned pedagogues, helping grow knowledge for those leading our community bands. We also facilitate community band weekends where guest conductors hold an intensive weekend long workshop for players all over the country.
This all culminates in the National Concert Band Festival- with performances, competitions, workshops, music repairers, and instrumental stores all congregating together to highlight the best the New Zealand concert band community has to offer.
Our Goals
The New Zealand Concert Band Association aims to maintain and facilitate the following goals:
- The annual National Concert Band Festival
- The New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds education and performance programme
- Conductor training workshops
- Community band weekends
- Opportunities for New Zealand Composers
Our People
Your representatives on the executive committee
Anthony Yelavich
President
Anthony has been a member of the NZCBA Executive since 2016. He currently plays French Horn for West City Concert Band and is the Secretary for West City Band Inc. Professionally, Anthony is a practicing lawyer, specialising in corporate advisory, business transactions and governance.
Graham Trail
Treasurer
Graham has been involved with NZCBA for about ten years, as Treasurer and Festival Lead. He plays bass for many community music theatre shows and played for Manukau Concert Band for over a decade. He is a veterinary surgeon in his other life.
Kathleen Mulligan
Community Outreach
Kathleen has been involved with NZCBA since 1990 when she took her little band from Taumarunui High School to Festival in New Plymouth.
She first became involved with Executive in that same year and has attended almost every Festival since, including as conductor of Manukau Concert Band from 2002-2014. She now plays for MCB and enjoys the other side of the musical process very much. She remains an active music maker in her community as a guest conductor, MD and performer in big bands, shows, concert bands and whatever else comes along.
Kathleen is a Life Member of NZCBA, having served as Vice President and recently President.
Michael Jamieson
NZYSW Co – Band Manager
Michael is the Musical Director of Auckland Youth Symphonic Band. He performs regularly with a number of ensembles, including the RNZN Band, NZSO and APO as principal saxophonist, and during 9 years in Europe, with the Rotterdam Philharmonic and Concertgebouw Orchestras. Over the years he has performed with people as diverse as Michael Bolton, Andre Rieu and Six60. As a bagpiper he is the Pipe Sergeant for the RNZN Pipes and Drums, and has appeared as a solo piper at among other things, the National commemorations for the centenary of the WWI Armistice and on a German pop album.
Rosemary Johnson
NZYSW Co – Band Manager
Rosemary has been playing Bb and Bass clarinet with two concert bands on the North Shore of Auckland since 2008. She is passionate about developing talent, is an advocate of lifelong learning and enjoys giving female composers a voice. In her other life Rosemary is a career coach helping women to work in, and re-enter the workplace with confidence.
James Bevin
Executive Member
James is a bassoonist and saxophonist based in Hastings. He began playing sax during high school and picked up bassoon while at Otago University. He is a past player of Otago Symphonic Band, Manukau Concert Band and Wairua Sinfonietta. When he returned to Hawkes Bay from his travels and studies, he re-joined Bay Cities Symphonic Band. Currently he is a player and co-conductor of the band, while also directing their youth ensemble. Outside of his passion for music, James is a farmer, enjoys driving machinery and loves his dogs.