Producer’s Notes

New Zealand has four professional orchestras – the NZSO and three regional orchestras (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch), and three professional bands – the Navy Band (based in Auckland), the Army Band (based in Christchurch) and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band based in Wellington. You will find many of New Zealand's top professional instrumental musicians within their ranks.

As you can see, they are all city-based organisations, so if we want them to play in Marlborough other than as part of a military parade, we have to either rely upon them including Blenheim on their touring agenda - which the NZSO do (twice this year!) or invite them. We issued the invitations, and now have the CSO playing the ASB Theatre in October, and the RNZAF Jazz Orchestra opening the Cavalcade season in July.

RNZAF Band

The RNZAF Band

The Royal New Zealand Air Force Band is a 65-member symphonic band based in Wellington.

It was formed in 1935 and made its public debut on 12 May 1937, leading a procession through Wellington marking the coronation of King George VI. It functioned as a full-time unit during WW2 but was disbanded after the war.

In 1951 the band was reformed as a territorial unit. Among its ranks are working professionals, freelance musicians and students studying at the New Zealand School of Music.

With its considerable membership and instrumentation, the RNZAF Band is the largest and only full symphonic band in the country. The Band takes part in State and ceremonial events providing music for openings of Parliament, Guards of Honour, royal visits and official functions. The band parades and performs concerts for community and charity events around the country.

The RNZAF Jazz Orchestra is made up of personnel from within the larger symphonic band, and boasts some of New Zealand’s finest jazz musicians.

Featuring CPL Alexis French, LAC Lance Philip and LAC Nils Olsen, as well as many other exciting musicians, this concert the Jazz Orchestra will present in Marlborough will feature the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, and many other greats from the classic big band era.

As with the orchestras, the personnel of the New Zealand Defence Force bands are international – in both their countries of origin and (especially) in their international musical education, training and employment histories.

Robin Sutherland