New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has awarded the Taupō Concert Band a
grant of $5,000 to purchase a vibraphone and a set of concert chimes (tubular bells),
expanding the band’s repertoire and creating more opportunities for musicians of all
ages in the community.
Taupō Concert Band Secretary Chris Marshall says, “This grant means we can buy
the quality percussion instruments we’ve wanted for years, which will open up a
whole new range of music for our players and audiences. These instruments are not
only costly but rare in small towns, so having them available will benefit both the
concert band and the Taupō Youth Windband, who share access to resources.”
The band shares its rehearsal space with Taupō Brass, Taupō Youth Strings, and the
Great Lake Big Band, pooling resources like sheet music, instruments, and
equipment. Volunteers run the organisation, keeping membership fees and concert
prices low to encourage anyone in the community to join.
Since acquiring timpani, the band’s musical range and sound quality have improved
significantly. Adding concert chimes and a vibraphone will allow them to play a wider
variety of pieces, enriching concerts and giving young musicians in the area access
to experiences often only available in major cities.
Ten-year-old percussionist Theo Brand says, “I love playing in the band, because it’s
lots of fun making loud noises with the other kids!”
Taupō Concert Band Chair Donovan Bixley says, “Every year the band loans
percussion equipment to the Taupō School of Music’s Big Music Day which sees as
many as two hundred kids learn several pieces over the course of the day, then play
them at an afternoon concert for friends and family. Soon there’ll be some cool new
wondrous sounds coming from the back row. It all leads to the younger brothers and
sisters who ask, ‘Wow, I want to learn this or that instrument… where can I learn how
to play it?’”
NZCT’s GM of Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges says, “Music’s
meant to be shared, and the Taupō Concert Band does that brilliantly. We’re
delighted this grant will help them add some amazing new sounds and give more
locals the chance to join in the fun. Grants like this wouldn’t be possible without the
responsible gaming partnership we share with the Lucky Lizard.”
Picture: Theo Brand playing percussion at the Bay of Plenty Music School in May this year. Photo: Richard Lummus
