BAND CONTEST

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21038, 14 February 1940, Page 11

BAND CONTEST

CENTENNIAL FIXTURE HAMILTON CITIZENS’ ENGAGED EXCELLENT RECORD OF UNIT On Friday the Hamilton Citizens’ Band will travel to Wellington to compete in the New Zealand Centennial Band contest B grade section. With an excellent record in the four years of its existence the band should perform well at the contests, which will be the outstanding event in the Dominion for many years. The band was formed in November, 1935, and still plays under the original conductor, Mr F. Kear. In 1936, at the South Auckland contests, it secured first place for the hymn test, second in the test selection, and first for the aggregate musical points. In 1937 and 1938 the band was well placed at the Tauranga and Thames contests. Last year the Hamilton Citizens’ Band was right at the top of its form when the South Auckland contests were held in Hamilton. First places were secured in the test selection, hymn test, quickstep, street and oval march, musical and grand aggregate. At that contest alone the band secured six shields and 70 medals. Included in the band are several excellent soloists. New Hall and Instruments The conductor, Mr Kear, has been largely responsible for the outstanding successes achieved by the band. Another member who has been untiring in his efforts is Mr S. W. Tallis, the drum major, late of H.M. Life Guards and the Duke of Lancaster’s Own. In recent months the band has purchased £IOOO worth of instruments and a new hall in Hamilton, which absorbed another £llOO. The band is planning to raise sufficient funds to provide a complete new set of uniforms.