Howick Brass’ annual Carols by Candlelight concert was a rousing success on Sunday evening.
An appreciative crowd of about 1000 attended the free public event in which Howick Brass played all the Christmas song favourites over 90 minutes as dusk became night.
The audience at Stockade Hill was encouraged to singalong to many of the festive season tunes and song sheets with lyrics were provided.
As a special surprise, guest player Edwina Thorne, who is a New Zealand music legend as the queen of jazz trumpet in this country, wanted to recognise one of the brass band’s long-time servants.
She brought with her the new Edwina Thorne Cup and after a few numbers by the band, announced that Buddy Delany, who was seated in the crowd, was the inaugural recipient of the prize.
He was delighted, an acknowledgement by Thorne and Howick Brass of his many years of service as a player and now as an all-round support volunteer.
Howick Brass sounded great and were in fine form led and conducted by Matt Verrill, with standout performances being the solos by principal euphonium Tino Ula on O Holy Night, and Daniel Hulley on tuba appropriately in costume for Frosty the Snowman.
The kids were also rewarded with the traditional lolly scramble just before everyone sung Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and as an encore, Feliz Navidad, to finish the feel-good free family concert for the community on a positive Christmas high.
- The Times appreciates the photos supplied by Charles E. West.
The Christmas lights on the tree at Stockade Hill provided a colourful backdrop against the night sky.
