Each band showcased their talent and Christmas spirit for this wonderful concert that also celebrated the band’s 125th anniversary. 

Woolston Concert Brass opened up with a rousing ‘Christmas March Medley’ conducted by Nick Johnson. Two soloists were featured in their segment, with Zac Powell (cornet) performing ‘Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child’ and Graeme Bremner (euphonium) delivering ‘O Holy Night’ - both playing beautifully. 

Philip Sparke’s arrangement of ‘Skyfall’ and their final number ‘Veni Immauel’ were also highlights. 

Crowd pleasers

Conducted by Jill Pears, Woolston Junior Band began their slot with ‘Little Drummer Boy’ featuring Jacob Hickman on side drum in the front of the band. They then performed crowd pleasers arranged by Jill Pears including ‘Deck the Halls’, ‘Blame it on the Boogie’ and ‘Jingle Jazz’. 

Impressive

The second half saw Woolston Brass open with Leroy Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival’ before the impressive euphonium soloist Bryce Fairweather played ‘We Three Kings’.

In preparation for the early 2017 National Championship in Wellington, MD Tyme Marsters was keen to keep challenging his band with the evocative ‘Coventry Variations’ written by Bramwell Tovey. 

In contrast, Woolston Brass concluded their set with ‘Santa Claus-Trophobia’ before the final massed band items saw festive favourites such as ‘Jingle Bells’ featuring Eb tuba Matthew Toomata and great communal ‘sing-alongs’ including ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘Feliz Navidad’ and the ever popular, ‘Snoopy’s Christmas’.