A YOUNG BAND: BUT IT BEATS THE BEST

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 37, 8 March 1940, Page 15

A YOUNG BAND: BUT IT BEATS THE BEST

St. Kilda’s Contest Performance

T O. their championship success in the Band Contest this year the St. Kilda Band, with only five "old"? members, and nine players under 17 years of age, was led by a drum-major with one of the longest continuous terms of service in New Zealand contest history-W. Donaldson. In 17 years Mr, Donaldson has led the band in 15 contests, and seen it win eight. times. Behind him this year marched Tommy Williams. (double bass) who has played for St. Kilda since 1908, and Joe Lees (side-drummer), the only other real veteran. Some. others have been with the band five or six years. The great majority of players have been fed into the senior band from the St. Kilda Boys’ Band during the last three years. These 20 young. players, sparsely reinforced by the few older members, played like veterans, to win the championship and the quick-step. Thirty Years a Bandsman Trained by the conductor, W. Francis, they enlarged his reputation as a bandmaster. For 30 years he has been a bandsman. Highlights of his career are: with Wanganui Garrison, was solo cornet; with Westport, was conductor for seven years; with Greymouth, was conductor for two years; with St, Kilda, has been bandmaster for three years, bringing the band from fourth place in the National Championships, to third, and now, to first. Until 1912 the band was known as the Mornington Brass Band. Under Edward Smith, in 1904, the band won its first success of many. It was in that year winner of the B Grade Championship at Gore. Later it won the A Grade Championship at New Plymouth, and soon after became the St. Kilda Band, since when it has grown steadily in fame under the guardian eyes of a proud Town Council. In 1912 St. Kilda tied for first place in Dunedin, hung on through the difficult’ years ofthe last war, and, for 14 years under James Dixon, attended every A Grade contest and each time shared in the prize money.

After Mr. Dixon came A. W. E. Webb, After. him, the present conductor, W, Francis. Marching in the Mud Marching behind the still upright figure of its now veteran drum-major, the St. Kilda Band has become famous in quick-step competition. For The Listener, Mr, Donaldson recalled during a conversation in his Wellington hotel, while rain poured down outside on the day of this year’s quick-step contest, that the band had also marched in mud for the quick-step held during Dunedin’s Exhibition. Then they came second, a position which was enough to place them in the lead for the aggregate. Young Hopefuls In the past the band may take pride, To the future it can look with hope, With it in Wellington this year were: Dave Christensen, aged 13 years, B flat cornet, who was aged 11 years when he won first in the amateur championship and second in the boys’. championship; The following year he held. the same positions. This year he has won the boys’ championship, the ‘amateur, championship, and was third in the open championship. ‘Ralph Francis, the conductor's: son, aged 17, whose three-year record: has included: First in boys’ championship and first in men’s championship; the same positions at Christchurch in the following year; and, after nine months’ changeover from the tenor horn to the cornet, third ‘in the amateur championship and a fairly good place in the open’ championship. He also. trained and playéd with the St. Kilda winning quartet € ss year.. Roy. Jackson, aged 15, who plays ‘tHe tenor horn and is starting his career..as a bandsmen with fine prospect of. future success. The judge remarked on the difficulty of separating him from the winner in the boys’ championship, and he was third in the open championship, Says Mr. Donaldson: "They're ‘all young these days. All the bands are doing it-bringing _ in the. young players early instead of them carry the music for: years, And they’re good."