Dalewool Auckland Brass are doing well to secure the services of three new players — just in time for the Australian Nationals in a few weeks time.

Lousia Smith, Cornet
Louisa began playing the flugel horn in the Wakefield Metropolitan Youth Band. A move to Hampshire meant moving to the cornet to play with the Hampshire County Youth Band. During this time she toured Europe and performed at high profile venues such as the Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London.

At the same time she played principal cornet with her local Youth Band Portchester & Fareham Youth, joined Ocean Brass and enjoyed first successes in contesting.

A course in Band Musicianship at Salford university followed. She played with the main university band throughout and elected to study performance and conducting under the tutelage of Dr Roy Newsome and Prof David King.

During her time at Salford Louisa played with various bands. The main progression being; Marple, Wingates, Leyland and finally Fodens where she spent nearly 3 years ending on top second cornet. Amongst other successes she has enjoyed winning the National areas, All England Masters twice, the British Open and the English National Championships.

Louisa conducted the Eagley band for 2 years whilst playing with Fodens, juggling this with a music teaching post at Fairfield College of Performing Arts.

A career move to work with the Hampshire Music Service as a full time brass teacher and conductor meant leaving Fodens. Louisa took the principal chair at Ocean Brass then moved to principal at SWT Woodfalls band winning contests with both bands.

Louisa returned to the Hampshire County Youth bands as a sectional tutor and also to another of her youth bands to teach and conduct the Portchester and Fareham Youth Junior band.

Louisa has moved to New Zealand with her partner Gareth (who also plays for the band) and has joined Dalewool Brass on the Repiano Cornet seat.

Gareth Lawless, BBb Tuba
Gareth began playing the cornet in 1997 progressing to Euphonium when he joined the Woolston Junior band winning the D grade in 2000 and 2001.

By this time there was further progression to the BBb bass and Gareth joined Woolston Brass in 2001. In the following year he was selected as a member of the National Youth Band of New Zealand and again in 2003 when the band toured the USA and UK. Later that year Gareth was selected as a member of the National Band of New Zealand.

He won the New Zealand National Championships with Woolston in 2002. Gareth went to Australia in 2004, Kerkrade in 2005 and toured Singapore and Europe with the National Band.

Later in 2005 Gareth made his first appearance with Fodens in a CD recording before returning home.

At the end on 2005 Gareth moved to Manchester to play with the Fairey band then moved on to play with Fodens. Gareth spent 2 years in the UK performing with various bands including Grimethorpe, YBS, Faireys and Fodens.

Gareth has returned to New Zealand on the completion of his OE visa and has joined Dalewool Brass on BBb bass.

Lolomeilangi Tuuhetoka, Cornet
Lolo is a returning Member of Dalewool Auckland Brass, having played with the band in the mid 1990’s. Since departing Dalewool Brass Lolo has spent time in Sydney, Australia conducting a Tongan Church Band and has also been involved in setting up a Brass Band in Tonga.

Lolo’s band in Tonga, the Tupou College Old Boys Brass, catered for ex-students of the school and any other bras players from the local community. Since returning to New Zealand Lolo has spent the past two years living in Taranaki, before returning to Auckland at the start of 2008.

Dina Schnell, Cornet
Dalewool Brass often welcomes brass players from around the world at rehearsals and performances. The band was extremely lucky when Dina contacted the band at the end of 2007 from Switzerland.

Dina is studying English in New Zealand until April and will join with the band as it travels to Brisbane for the Australian Championships at Easter time.

Dina is from a small village called Kappelen in Switzerland and started playing the trumpet when she was 10 years old. In 2006 Dina joined the Rapperswil-Wierezwil Brass Band and switched to the cornet.

Dina is enjoying the opportunity to play with Dalewool Auckland Brass and sees it as an exciting opportunity to meet new people with similar interests, practice her English skills, and make friends on the other side of the world.