The West City Concert Band is a community wind ensemble based in West Auckland, bringing together around 55 volunteer musicians to practice and perform at events around Auckland. We are made up of people from all walks of life ranging from school students through to retirees, those with huge amounts of experience and those who just want to play, and everyone in between. An inclusive group that comes together to share our love of music, the West City Concert Band has encouraged people to renew or continue their love of music and performing for over 45 years. We welcome brass, woodwind, and percussion players of all types and have associated opportunities for string players.
Our Director and Music
The band is led by our musical director and conductor Chad Davenport. He strives to create programmes that will push us to improve and to always try something new, creating a set that speaks to the event and our audience.
We play a huge range of music, making sure that there is something for everyone. We play modern compositions and traditional wind band music. We play brass band adaptations, modern and older pop and jazz. We even include music out of or based on video games! With the variety involved, there’s always something new to be learning and something to look forward to.
Performances
We love to share our passion with the community and try to perform regularly in all sorts of venues. We compete at the New Zealand Concert Band Nationals, but we also love to put on shows around Auckland. We play at community concerts like Santa parades and other events. We give a musical twist to the MOTAT trams in December. We put on our own ticketed shows and we collaborate with other groups including choirs, dance groups, and even once a circus group! Recently we’ve also gone digital and tried our hand at live streaming performances.
Recent Awards
NZCBA Festival 2023 – Auckland
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy – Outstanding Performance by a Band
NZCBA Festival 2022 – Hamilton
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy – Outstanding Performance by a Band
NZCBA Festival 2021 – Napier
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy — Outstanding Performance by a Band
- The Robert Lutt Trophy — Best Performance of a Piece by a Band
(for Auguries of Innocence)
NZCBA Festival 2019 – Auckland
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy – Outstanding Performance by a Band
- Robert Lutt Trophy – Best Performance of a Piece by a Band (for Riften Wed)
NZCBA Festival 2018 – Wellington
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy — First in the competitive category
- Robert Lutt Shield — Outstanding Overall Festival Band
NZCBA Festival 2017 – Whangarei
- Royal New Zealand Navy Band Trophy – First in the competitive category
- Robert Lutt Shield – Outstanding Overall Festival Band
- Robert Lutt Trophy – Outstanding Performance of a Piece by a Band (for City Trees)
Membership
We welcome wind band players (woodwind, brass and percussion) of all ages. The West City Concert Band typically plays concert band repertoire at grade level 4 and level 5.
Rehearsals
The West City Concert Band rehearses on Wednesday evenings, from 7 pm – 9:30 pm.
Rehearsal venue:
Elim Christian College (Upper Room)
80 Central Park Drive
Henderson
Auckland 0600