Concerts by Army Band

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 10

Concerts by Army Band

The New Zealand Army Band will give two concerts in the Christchurch Town Hall —on Friday, and on May 23 —as part of a New Zealand tour in preparation for its tour of Australia.

The band drew favourable comment at the opening of the Commonwealth Games in January for its precision marching and playing, and in the Royal variety concert in the Town Hall, at which it stole the show with its novel entrance and playing.

The band was formed in April. 1964, to provide music for ceremonial and formal occasions, and to supply replacement bandsmen for the Infantry Reserve band in South-East Asia.

The band has played at schools, factories, hospitals, and other institutions, provided music for charity balls, presented concerts to help many service clubs raise finance for local projects, played for numerous ceremonial parades, and marched before thousands of people throughout New Zealand.

Four L.P. recordings by the band have been released. Its television appearances have included spectacular marching displays, and a guest spot on the “Happen Inn” show.

'More records and television; 'programmes are planned. Ever,’ two years 20 mem-j 'bers are selected from the; parent unit to replace mem-1 bers of the band serving in; Singapore. This band fulfils the battalion’s requirements,! and also promotes New Zea-; land and the Army in 1 Malaysia, Thailand. Borneo,; Vietnam, and the Philippines.; The present Singapore band is commanded by Captain J. D. Carson, who was the first leader of the band.