Twisted Brass is a five piece Brass Ensemble based here in Christchurch.
Our players have many years experience playing in top level New Zealand
Bands and small groups. The wide range of music available for the
quintet format, combined with the versatility of the players, leads to a
group that is extremely flexible. Since formation in August 2007,
Twisted Brass has performed at concerts, weddings, pubs and even as an
Italian street band in a production of Romeo and Juliet. Whatever the
occasion, the focus is always on enjoyment, quality of music and a
professional approach.
Programme
Hallelujah Chorus - Handel – Barnes.
Carmen Medley- Bizet - Kingston.
Flower Duet From lakme - Delibes - Kingston.
Chanson de Matin - Elgar - Roberts.
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - Bach - Taillard.
Fugue in G Minor - Bach - Romm.
Largo al Factotum - Rossini - Kulesha.
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba - Handel - Kingston.
A Russian Fantasy Kingston - Kingston.
Interval
Night on Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky- Sutherland.
Sonata 2 - Cherubini - Muller-Cajar
Pavane For a Dead Princess - Ravel - Stewart
Le Basque- Marais- Vail.
Rondeau - Mouret - Barnes
Concerto de Aranjuez - Rodrigo- Vail.
Nimrod - Elgar- Kingston.
Pomp and circumstance March no.1 - Elgar - Kingston.
The 1812 Overdone-Tchaikovsky- Langer.
Twisted Brass supporting:
David Müller-Cajar (French Horn) (as guest)
As well as being a casual player for
the CSO David has been principal horn for the Christchurch Youth
Orchestra, and was principal horn for the National Youth Orchestra in
their 2009 season. He has also been part of the University of Canterbury
brass quintet.
Last year David assisted the Kirwee players to attract capacity
audiences through his singing and acting in a lead role in their
production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
David was a semi-finalist in the Gisborn International Music Competition
and has received a Bachelor of music with First Class Honours in
Performance and Composition in 2009.
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The Performers
Anthony Smith (Cornet)
Anthony started with famous Waimataitai Primary School Brass Band
at age of 9 where he played cornet for 8 years before changing to flugel for 2
years and then back to cornet. After progressing through Timaru junior and
senior bands, Anthony moved to Christchurch in 2003 to study accounting. In 2004
he joined Woolston Brass and was appointed assistant principal cornet in 2005.
Anthony completed a Bachelor of Commerce with 1st Class Honours in 2006, joined
Deloitte in 2007 and gained a Chartered Accountant qualification in 2010.
Musical successes include NZ Jnr Horn Champion 2002-2003, Australian Flugel
Champion 2004, NZ Open Amatuer Cornet Champion 2006, 7 National Youth Bands (3
as principal cornet) and member of 2007 and 2008 National Bands of New Zealand..
John Wise (Cornet)
John is perhaps one of the busiest cornet players in
Christchurch. He
has been Principal cornet of Addington Brass Band for many years and is
also a regular member of the territorial army band as well as Twisted
Brass. In his spare time he can often be found helping out other bands in
the area.
Bill Vail (Horn)
Bill started playing the Tenor Horn at the age of 9 on the South
Coast of England. He played in the Hampshire County Youth Band through his
teenage years moving up the ranks to attain the position of Principal Horn. His
time here culminated with the band winning the title of Champion Youth Brass
Band of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall in 1983.
Bill moved to Leeds in 1986 to follow a career in the Electronics Industry. This
move to the heart of the banding world afforded many valuable opportunities
which led to the position as a soloist in the Yorkshire Imperial Band. During
his time with this band, it was consistently ranked around sixth in the Brass
Band World rankings.
In 1995, Bill moved to New Zealand to check that the water really did go down
the plug hole the other way! Since this time, Bill has spent 3 years at
Addington as Principal Horn and deputy director, 6 years with Woolston Brass
covering the same roles and was Principal Horn for the 2003 and 2005 tours for
the National Brass Band of NZ. Since 2008, Bill has put his main musical focus
into Twisted Brass but enjoys helping out bands as needed and teaching learners
at the Woolston Brass Academy.
Mark Vander Klei (Baritone)
Mark started playing Violin at the age of 9 before moving to
cornet at 11. He moved to the horn at 14 and toured Japan with Christchurch
Youth Brass Band. At 17, Mark switched to Euphonium and had another tour to
Japan. In 1988, Mark was a member of the National Youth Brass Band and achieved
a 2nd place in National Youth Euphonium solo contest. At 20 he specialised on
the Baritone as a member of the Woolston Brass band. In 2003 Mark was selected
for the National Brass Band of NZ and is currently Principal Baritone for the
Woolston Brass Band.
Bob Grimwood (Bass)
Bob came to New Zealand in 1964 from the North East of England
and joined the Woolston Band under the conductorship of Bill Stewart. Originally
a cornet player, Bob moved to Eb Tenor Horn in 1968 and was a member of the
winning quartet at the Rotorua Nationals in 1969.
Bob switched to EEb Bass, at the request of Mervyn Waters, in 1980 winning his
first of many National Open EEb Bass Solo titles in 1981. Bob has since won
numerous solo titles both at National and Provincial levels.
Bob was selected as Principal Bass in the 1985 and 1989 National Bands, and has
been the Principal Bass of Canterbury Brass since 1996.
