Marching musicians head to military base
Three Taranaki musicians are marching their way to a military base for special tutoring at a yearly band camp.
The National Secondary School’s Brass Band (NSSBB) is a camp for secondary school brass and percussion musicians and New Plymouth’s Dominic Jacquemard, Daniel Chow and Drew Wood will be attending this year’s camp at the Burnham Military Base.
The camp offers tutoring from professional musicians and will run September 27 to October 3, concluding with a public performance at Christchurch’s new venue, The Piano.
Eighteen-year-old Jacquemard, who plays the per- cussion, has attended the camp before, but this year would be his last before leaving for university.
‘‘I have an audition next month for the School of Music in Wellington. I’m pretty nervous. I hope to do well,’’ he said.
The NSSBB required entrants to submit audition tapes, but as a percussionist, Jacquemard had to go a step further and demonstrate skills over a range of instruments that included side drums, keyboard percussion, drum kit, and timpani - also known as kettledrums.
Only 39 musicians were accepted and this year about 50 musicians from around the country had applied, executive officer Helen Lee said.
‘‘For a lot of kids, it’s a social thing but they do do a lot of work,’’ she said.
‘‘Dominic is gaining experience by learning from new tutors and playing with new musicians.’’
Jacquemard holds the title as Junior Champion of Champions - a first for a percussionist in brass band history - after competing with the Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass (DHNPBB) at the New Zealand National Brass Bands Championships on July 12.
He was also awarded with the national title in the junior percussion.
Sixteen-year-old Chow, who plays the euphonium - an instrument resembling a small tuba was awarded a national title in his age and instrument group.
Other mentionable winners include 14-year-old Hamish Goodhue, who won the ‘‘Under 15 Percussion’’ national title, and Amanda Bolland, who won ‘‘Champion B Grade Drum Major’’.
The DHNPBB placed third in the national championships.