WOMEN'S BRASS BAND

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 97, 2 May 1941, Page 43

WOMEN'S BRASS BAND

Successful Dunedin Venture

S more and more men go overseas the ranks of male brass bands are being severely depleted, and the time must come when there will be few fullstrength bands in the Dominion. Considerable interest, therefore, has been aroused by the formation of a women’s hrass band in Dunedin, and the first public recital given just before Easter was listened to by an audience of 2000. The standard of performance at that first recital surprised those people who were prepared to be tolerant, and say nice things by way of encouragement, but who were also convinced that tolerance would be required. As it happened, the performance was a _ fullbodied, mature one, all the more surprising because it was generally knowa that the band had no existence at all nine months ago. It was then that Arthur Hodgkins, who had already achieved success with women’s bands in. Canada, England, and Australia, came to Dunedin and decided to do something there as well. It took time to get people interested, and it was not until three months ago that the band was brought to full strength. Of the 40 performing members who participated in that first appearance, not one, with the exception of Barbara Hodgkins (the conductor’s daughter), had played a band instrument before she joined. Much Enthusiasm The girls-they are nearly all youth-ful-went into training with a most commendable enthusiasr During the Easter period the band was busy. On Good Friday afternoon,

to a large gathering, in splendid weather, it gave a concert in the Oamaru Gardens, creating something of a sensation there, During the remainder of the Easter period it visited Timaru, It is worth adding that bandswoman Nyra Hemsley is believed to be the youngest feminine cornetist in the world. She is a tiny tot of only eight years, but her mastery of her instrument is such that she can already play solos with or without the support of the band.