Meet the Band

John Knowles – Musical Director

Click on a players name to see their Biography

Euphonium Section

Peter Downey – Solo Euphonium

Graeme Gillies

Phil Thomson

Brian Ede

Baritone Section

Mike Shaw

Willis McDonnell

Lewis Nielson

Barbara Blackett

Adrian Pickering

Tenor Horn Section

Lesley Terry – Solo Horn

Brian Gilbert

Tony Brooke

Bruce Sinton

Chris Lines

Stuart Craw – Flugel

Cornet Section

Eric Cole – Solo Cornet

Peter Harbidge – Solo Cornet

Geoff Mansell – Solo Cornet

Bill Rimmer – Soprano Cornet

Brenda Rosamond – Repiano Cornet

Ron Archer – 2nd Cornet

Graham Mackay – 2nd Cornet

Dorique Buchanan – 2nd Cornet

Eric Stansfield – 3rd Cornet

Judith Little – 3rd Cornet

Trombone Section

Maurice Robertson

Roger McKinlay

Jamie Ford

Dave Sinton

Ray Brown

Warwick Day – Bass Trombone

Eb Bass

Peter Lucas

Don Whiting

Neville Thomas

BBb Bass

Dennis Rive

Norman Moore

Ron Moore

Percussion

Steve Dale

Jean Natapu

Rex Augustine

Chris started playing in 1958 with Howick Citizens Brass Band, here is his story

Chris has played the Eb Horn with a number of bands and I am sure he has held various positions with in the sections

  • 1958 - 1965 Howick Citizens Brass Band
  • 1965 - 1966 National Youth Band
  • 1969 - 1974 Mt Roskill municipal Brass Band
  • 1977 - 1982 New Lynn Citizens Brass Band which then became Waitakere Brass

Don started playing Euphonium in 1955 at the age of eight. He has played for many bands since: 

  • 1965 – 1967 Arizona State University Sun Devil Band 
  • 1968 - 2020 Mesa City Band, Arizona 
  • 1979 - 1980 Richmond Brass Band, Surrey UK 
  • 1987 - 2020 Territorial Brass, Arizona’s Official Historical Brass Band (founder) 
  • 1996 - Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band, Silverton, Colorado 
  • 1996 - 1997 Capitol City Band, Wisconsin 
  • 2006 - 2020 Arizona Winds Concert Band 
  • 2015 & 2018 Tourchester Lich Brass Band (Frankfurt, Germany), Oktoberfest tours of Brazil and Canada 
  • Don also performs on his collection of didgeridoos
  • Arizona State University Sun Devil Band
  • Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band
  • Mesa City Band
  • Richmond Brass Band
  • Playing the Didgeridoo
  • Tourchester Lich Brass Band

Phil joined the Kumeu organization with Kumeu Brass, then retired to the Vintage Band

Phil has been very hands on with concert organization over the years especially by designing beautiful advertising posters.

His son Alan Perston is the resident photographer and has taken many of the great photos that grace our pages

         

   

  • 1958 - 1962 Takapuna Citizens
  • 1962 - 1969 Devonport Citizens
  • 1989 onwards RNZ Artillery
  • 1957 began on trumpet aged 10
  •  1958 joined TeAkarana
  •  1959 merged with Auckland City Girls, played solo cornet
Te Ararika Band
 1960-1964 Henderson High School band
 1960 1yr Devonport Citizens Band on 1st cornet
                 ------   45year gap ------
2006-2009 Kumeu Brass on 3rd and repiano cornet
2006-2012 Ak Guggemusik Band-went to Switzerland for Fasnaght[carnival]
2009-2010 Auckland City
2015 Kumeu Brass
  • 1957 Ponsonby Boys
  • 1980's North Harbour Citizens

In the Uk

  • Sleaford
  • Horncastle
  • Ruston Bucirus
  • Lincoln Band

Moved to New Zeland

  • Hawera Band
  • Taupo Band
  • Howick Band
  • Papatoetoe
  • Takapuna City Silver
  • RNZ Artillery
  • Kumeu Brass
  • Papakura

Also a life member of Auckland Brass Bands Association

  • Waitakere Brass
  • Takapuna City
  • Tauranga Municipal
  • Mt Roskill
  • Katikati Concert Band

 

Played in 2 bands in Manchester UK in the 50's and 60's

1952 Mt Eden Band

  • Takapuna City Band
  • New Lynn Citizens Band

1958 Auckland Congress Hall band

  • Learned at the age of 10 - Congress Hall Salvation army Auxiliary Band
  • Then the Congress Hall Salvation Army Band, E Flat Bass & Euphonium

Congress Hall Band 1963

  • Avondale College Brass Band (conducted)
  • Auckland Junior Symphony Orchestra, Tuba
  • Mt Roskill Municipal Brass Band, EE Flat bass
  • St Matthew’s Chamber orchestra, Tuba
  • Auckland City Brass, E Flat Bass & Sousaphone
  • Dalewool Auckland Brass, E Flat Bass
  • Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, E Flat BassAuckland City Brass

Started playing at 10 years old

  • 1944 - Wanganui Queen Alexandra Own Junior Band (father was M.D)
  • 1948 - 1950 Wanganui Technical College Band, Orchestra, Choir
  • 1951 - 1957 Wanganui Garrison
  • 1953 Linon CMT

45-year gap

  • 1957 - 1959 Auckland battalion (which was conducted by uncle VIC Thomas)
  • 2004 - 2016 Devonport Citizens and Kumeu Brass

  • Upper Hutt Municipal
  • Mt Roskill Municipal
  • Kumeu Brass
  • Continential Airlines
  • RNZAF Auckland

  • 1958 Marton Municipal
  • 1970 Rotorua Municipal
  • 1973 Wellington Fire Brigade
  • 1975 Hammersmith Borough, London, UK
  • 1977 Lower Hutt Municipal
  • 1979 Onslow / Wellington Brass
  • 2000 Royal N.Z. Artillery

Percussionist with;

  • North Harbour concert Band
  • North Shore Concert Band
  • Sail City Stompers
  • currently a member of St Matthews chamber orchestra

 

Salvation Army Bands

Joined VB in 2015

  • Otahuhu Railway Workshops
  • Mt Roskill Municipal
  • Waitemata Silver/ Waitakere City
  • Aukland City

1965 - 1978 Blenheim Municipal

1965 - 1978 RNZAF Woodbourne

1978 - 1994 RNZAF Auckland

1957 - 1958 Northern College Band

1958 - 1962 Takapuna Grammer Band

1978 - 1986 RNZAIF Countess of Ranfurlys Own Wellington

  • RNZ Artillery
  • Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band
  • Lower Hutt Municipal
  • Continential Airlines
  • Aukland City

Played for Artillery and Salvation Army

1953 - 1971 - Whangarei Salvation Army

1971 - 2000 Newton Citadel S.A Band (Bandmaster 1992 - 2000)

Auckland S.A Fellowship Brass (Bandmaster 2008 - 2009)

 

Played for Hamilton Citizens, Eastern Bay Brass, Tauranga City Silver, Auckland City and RNZAF Base Auckland

Played in Taupo Citizens, National youth Te Awamutu Municipal and Continential/ Fosters/ Dalewool from 1980 to 2003

Previously played cornet in Howick Citizens’ Band and Waitemata Silver Band

Current member (50 years) – Flugel Horn, Life Member and previously Director of Music, Band of the Royal Regiment of NZ Artillery

Current Member of NZ Veterans Band – Flugel Horn

Played in and Conducted Warkworth Brass band

  • 1941 Auckland City Boys (later it was called Auckland City)
  • 1942 - 1945 Auckland Grammar School Band and One Tree Hill band
  • 1948 Whangarei Band
  • 1949 - 1952 Lower Hutt Civic band
  • 1952 Waimarino Brass, located in Ohakune.
  • 1953 - 1965 conducting the Huntly College Band and Waikato Armoured Regiment Band
  • 1965 - 1988 Hamilton Citizens played and conducted also played in the Hamilton Civic Orchestra and various pit orchestras, as well as conducting numerous shows for Hamilton Operatic.
  • As a lecturer at Hamilton Teachers College I played in various music groups and conducted an opera and also conducted a couple of operas in the city.
  • 1989 North Shore Brass and the Auckland Air Force band, conducted Warkworth Brass and played for Kumeu Brass.
  • 1989, 1992, 1995, 2002, and 2005 played with the Great Western Rocky Mountain Band (Silverton, Colorado) five times for a week each time. I played with the Local Western State College Band. These were their Summer School Bands all at University level.

 

Started playing at 11 years old, been playing for all this time but for 5 years

  • 1949-54 Kumeu Band (Cornet)
  • 1951-54 Avondale College (Mellophone)
  • 1954-55 RNZAF station Woodbourne (Cornet)
  • 1955-56 RNZAF station Hobsonville (Cornet)
  • 1956-57 RNZAF station Whenuapai (Cornet)
  • 1957-58 RNZAF station Wigram (Cornet)
  • 1962-72 Kumeu Band (Cornet)
  • 1972-77 Kumeu Band (Tenor Horn)
  • 1975-77 RNZAF base Auckland (Tenor Horn)
  • 1977-84 Kumeu Band (Flugel Horn)
  • 1977-79 RNZAF base Auckland (Flugel Horn)
  • 1984-90 RNZAF base Auckland
  • 1990-2003 RNZAF base Auckland (Cornet)
  • 2004 to Present Kumeu Brass (Cornet)

Past President & Secretary Kumeu Band. Currently committee member

1962 – 1964 Sumner Silver Band Christchurch (tenor Horn)

1968 - 2nd Battalion band Christchurch

1972 – Woolston Workingmen’s club Christchurch (switched to Soprano)

1990 – Shoreside/ North Shore Concert Band

1991 – Royal Artillery Band (back to Tenor Horn and Baritone)

2005 – RNZAF Base Band Auckland

Previously played in Royal Artillery 1961 – 1994

Waitakere Brass 1994 - 2006

1985 – 1989 Crew Co-op (England)

2007 – 2011 Auckland City Brass

2014 Auckland Fellowship band

Daughter of Bruce Borthwick (our oldest Vintage member)

Joined Vintage in 2018 (was a founder member when Vintage band Started)

Ponsonby Boys Brass Band 1955 - 1965

Saxophone in North Shore Concert Band

Played for New Lynn Citizens from 1974 - 1979

Auckland City Brass 1997 - 1998

Royal NZ Artillery 1980 - 2012

Played in Kumeu Brass

Played in several RNZAF bands from 1958; Wigram, Woodbourne, Ohakea, Central

Also played in North Shore, Fielding and Kumeu Brass

Played in Coromandel District High School Band, 2nd baritone 1954 - 1955

HVH School Brass Band from 1961 – 1964

Hamilton Auxiliary from 1978 – 1989

Te Awamutu brass from 11989 - 1995

 

Joined Hamilton Brass Junior Band in 1958, then moved up to the Senior Band

From 1970 Lewis played in various Salvation Army Bands

Played in Takapuna 1957 to 1969

Played in RNZAF Auckland Band

  • Former member of Marlbourgh College Band (1955)
  • Auckland Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band
  • Waitemata Siler Band
  • 1967 National Band of New Zealand
  • Blenheim Municipal Band
  • Turrells Onehunga, Continental Brass, Fosters Auckland Brass

1950 –52 Baritone Lower Hutt Municipal Junior Band (started age 8 )
1953 – 81 Baritone/ Euphonium Lower Hutt Municipal
1974 – 77 conductor Wainuiomata Brass
1978 – 80 conductor Lower Hutt Municipal
1980        member National Band
1982        conductor Lower Hutt Civic
1983 – 96? euphonium Continental Brass
1988 – 90 conductor Mt Roskill Municipal
1999 – 2003 euphonium North Shore Brass (photo below)
1985 – 2005 euphonium Air Force band (with gap in the middle somewhere )
Placings in various solo’s, duets, ensembles
     

Started playing at aged 12 in school band in Cornwall

Followed the family tradition playing for St Pinnock Silver on 2nd Baritone

The Band graduated to B grade winning lots of silver ware when playing Solo Euphonium ( see picture)

Founder member of Saltash Band later became conductor.

Played Eb bass with RBL Crownhill Plymouth through successful years climbing to 2nd section of national championship - highlight playing in Finals at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Came to NZ, did not play for 20 years then joined KVB on retirement

Played Trombone and Euphonium at;

  • Pahiatua
  • Dannevirke
  • Motueka
  • Roxburgh
  • 7th Wellington and h. Bay Battalion
  • Royal NZ Artillery
  • NZ Veterans army Band

 

Played in and conducted many Brass bands in NZ

Taught brass players as an itinerant music teacher

Bands played in;

  • 1958 Whangarei Boys High School Band
  • 1966 NZ Army National Army service band, 13th intake Waiouru
  • 1967 onwards, Salvation Army. Many bands throughout NZ formed and trained a brass band at Winton Salvation Army
  • Takapuna Citizens Band
  • 1988 Whakatane Citizens band
  • Rotorua Band
  • 1993 Continental Airlines Auckland brass (also known as fosters and Dalewool)
  • 2007 North Shore Brass

 

 

 

Played in Queensland mounted Infantry, Ipswich Vice-Regal and  Royal NZ Artillery