TALENTED COMBINATION

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 8

TALENTED COMBINATION

ST. HILDA MUNICIPAL BAND HISTORY OF PROGRESS To-morrow afternoon will herald the commencement of another season of summer open-air concerts by the various bands of the city, and to the St. Kilda Municipal Band goes the honour of initiating this season’s scries. This band was formed in 1901, and was until 1912 known as the Mornington Brass Band, having for its conductor Mr E. Smith, who until recently had charge of the Gore Municipal Band, which, incidentally, is now conducted by an ex-member of the St. Kilda Band, Mr C. E. Miller, who, until recently appointed to this position, was solo euphonium. Under the capable •guidance o’f Mr Smith, the Mornington Band soon became an excellent musical

combination, well known at contests throughout New Zealand. Its first success was gained at Gore in 1904, when it won the B grade championship. Later at New Plymouth it won tho A grade championship, thus establishing itself as a first class band. In 1912, when the hand’s name was changed to its present one, it again won the A grade championship at Dunedin: but in 1914, on the outbreak of the Great War, the organisation suffered a serious set-back, like many similar organisations, its ranks being depleted through members going on active service overseas. However, the enthusiasm of the older members enabled the band to be carried on throughout the war period. Mr James Dixon, well known to all musical societies throughout the Dominion, held the position of conductor for a period of 14 years and piloted the band to success on many occasions, attending during his term every A grade contest held in New Zealand and sharing the prize money in each competition. Its most memorable win was at the New Zealand championship contest held in Wanganui in 1929. At this contest the St. Kilda Municipal Band secured first place in the two test selections, first in music in the

quickstep, and first in military points —a record not previously equalled by any other band in the Dominion. At the Timaru contest held in February, 1935. tho baud again won the New Zealand championship, and received the handsome gold cup which was competed for then for the first time. _ In the quickstep competition, which is a feature of every baud contest, this band has over a period of years competed with marked success, having gained eight first and three second prizes in the last 11 years of competition—a record which is likely to stand for many years. Tho band’s niost recent success in the quickstep was at the major contest held at Christchurch in February of this year, when it also took first place in the “own choice” selection with a large margin of 30 points. Drum-major W. Donaldson, who has led the band in the quickstep for the past 1C years, is the highly-respected and very efficient trainer, and credit for this year’s quickstep success must undoubtedly go to him, for the band contained no fewer than seven junior members, the majority of whom had before this competition not competed at a contest. Also in tho solo events at this contest no fewer

than first places and three second places were gained by individual members, this constituting another record.

On tho retirement of Mr James Dixon from tho conductorshiip in 1937 Mr L, Francis, the present conductor, was appointed. Mr Francis already has an excellent record as a hand master in New Zealand, his previous baud being Grcymouth Municipal, and he has gained with B grade bands three championships and one second place in four years. The present St. Kilda Band under his guidance has already proved formidable opponents at contests.

The Dunedin public will have an opportunity of hearing this talented musical combination to-morrow afternoon, at 3, in the Botanic Gardens. An excellent programme has been selected from the newly-stocked library, and among the items are included tho contest marches ‘ Bavenswood ’ and ‘ Harlequin ’ the march winch was played by the band when it won tho quickstep at Christchurch this year). The well-known ‘Slavonic Rhapsody 1 is alto included, while Master D, Christensen, the champion cornetist, and Bandsman H. Mullen will render cornet and trombone solos respectively