West City Concert Band wins top NZ festival awards

The NZ Concert Bands Association 2018 national festival was held at Victoria University in Wellington.

West City Concert Band were awarded the Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy for first in the competitive category, as well as the Robert Lutt Shield for Outstanding Overall Festival Band. Additionally, our West City Saxophone Ensemble received the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band Trophy for outstanding Ensemble!

Congratulations to Victoria University Concert Band for received the Robert Lutt Trophy for Outstanding Performance of a Piece! 

Also special thanks to Wellington Symphonic Bands Inc. for hosting this year’s festival!

Introducing new Youth Band Director, Lauren Raby!

The West City Band executive committee has appointed Lauren Raby as the new director of music for the West City Youth Concert Band. Lauren started rehearsing with the youth band last week.

Lauren has taught music at Massey High School since May 2017 and has a Bachelor of Music Education from Indiana University, Indiana. She plays flute and piccolo and has taught music and band at several intermediate and high schools in the United States. Lauren is native to Georgia, USA and prior to coming to New Zealand spent a year teaching in Berlin, Germany.

We are excited to see the development of the youth band under Lauren’s direction.

West City Band would also like to acknowledge the leadership and dedication of Matt Stenbo as youth band director. Matt has directed the youth band for the past three years and has played a vital role in the development and success of the band. We wish Matt the best in his future endeavours.