The Club’s Christmas Party at Fairview Lifestyle Village

What a great way to finish off a wonderful year of musical adventures both on Club Nights, Coffee Days, Community Music Days at lifestyle villages and musical daytrips to such places at Piha RSA! Our Christmas Party this year was held at Fairview Lifestyle Village, Fairview Heights, Albany where many of our members are residents of this lovely Village. 
Festivities started at 2.30 pm and carried on until 5 pm with members playing their keyboards or the grand piano and to a sizable audience of members and residents. Happy Hour between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm saw our special guest artists play for us - firstly, Denise Gunson and then Ben Fernandez. They certainly bring out the best in the lovely grand piano in the Village's luxurious lounge.
At 6.15 pm we enjoyed a  magnificent BBQ from the creativity of Fairview's gourmet chef, we had about 42 members participating in the BBQ and about 25 residents.
Come 7.00 pm we were back into the music with Len Hancy and Mary Barrett giving us a great 25 minute mini-concert. Next up Kevin and Jan Johnston gave us some rousing upbeat music to get the feet tapping and the dancers up on the ballroom floor. To finish off the evening, an impromptu band gave us some great dance music and jazz singing provided by Len Hancy (and occasional strains from Margaret Black!). The band consisted of Len Hancy (vocals), Jan Johnston (keyboard), Kevin Johnston (acoustic guitar), Peter Brophy (keyboard) and Sandi Crawford (keyboard) and Jim Nicholson (grand piano). They certainly got people up and onto the dance floor!
As always, the NSOKC extends much thanks to the Social Committee of the Village and to the Management. Special thanks to resident, Barbara Bailey for interfacing with the Village and our Events Manager, Diane Lyons - good job all round! A big thank you also to the door staff, Delyse Whorwood, Margaret Black, Peter Littlejohn and Dennis Lyons (who also took the photos as the Club's Official Photographer).
The NSOKC Committee takes this opportunity to extend to all our members and followers a very Happy Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Hopefully, your Club will put together another great programme of music for 2015.

                      

 

                  

 

   

   

    

   

 

 

 

Christmas Club Night 2nd December 2014

A very special Christmas Club Night with record numbers of members and visitors attending the evening. With members from as far afield as New Plymouth and Algies Bay in attendance the Club must be doing something right! Great artists performed for us and were given an extended play time of 25 minutes so that they could really stretch-out their musical creativity. A big thank you to the members for all the wonderful donations for our Christmas Hamper Raffle. We had 12 hampers chocker with goodies!

Our Secretary, Delyse Whorwood, also put on a very special supper to celebrate the occasion and Christmas spirit. It was nice to welcome member, Margaret Black, to assisting with door duties - a very vital role to gather in the dollars! Our events manager, Diane Lyons, was busy also in the supper break collecting names for our Christmas Party BBQ to be held at Fairview Lifestyle Village on Saturday afternoon and evening of 13th December 2014. We have Ben Fernandez generously donating his time for the Happy Hour between 5 and 6 pm with members playing between 3 and 5 pm. After the BBQ we will have Band Music to bop along with. Should be an occasion not to miss.

As we come to the end of 2014, the Committee of The North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club take this opportunity of thanking members for their support during the year and wishing one and all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

The Videos:

Jan and Kevin Johnston came all the way from Algies Bay to play for the Club on the evening. Jan playing her Korg Pa1X and Kevin his Crafter acoustic guitar:

Roy Steen, brought his trusty Korg Pa80 arranger keyboard to play for us on the evening:

The Photos:

 

    

  

 

 

Coffee Day 18th November 2014

A lovely day at our Secretary Delyse Whorwood's home for Coffee Day. With a Clavinova, a Korg Pa1X and a Technics KN6500 to choose from our players had a ball! A quick headcount indicated we had 26 members enjoying the Day! After some great music and a huge luncheon banquet, Delyse Whorwood, Diane Lyons and Desiree Barrows worked on packing the Christmas Hampers for our Club Night on 2nd December 2014 - with the generosity of our members, the Hampers are filling rapidly - not to be missed!
A big thank you to Delyse for sharing her lovely home with us and to Diane Lyons particularly who helped Delyse keep the food and drinks flowing all day.

 

            

                  

    

 

Club Night 4th November 2014

A nice variety of styles of music in the first half courtesy of four of our talented members who brought along their keyboards to play for us. In order of play they were: John Beales (arrivals and performance); Diane Lyons; Claude Moffat; and Colin Crann. After the raffle draw and a nice tea break we were entertained by our special guest artist, Louise Lamb. Louise is an accomplished professional pianist and teacher. Louise played our Clavinova CVP-509 to perfection giving us a selection of jazz standards from the golden era of such music - the 1920's and 1930's. It doesn't get much better than Hoagy Carmichael and George Gershwin!

Committee Members, Delyse Whorwood and Diane Lyons, have been sorting our sheet music including some new music book donations and these were set-up downstairs for people to peruse as they had their refreshments break. A big thank you to the Committee as always and door duty staff for a great job to make the meeting go so smoothly. Also, a big thank you to members who have donated so generously to our Christmas Hamper Raffle. The food, drinks and novelty items are building nicely!

The Videos:

Our Guest Artist, Louise Lamb, playing the Club’s Clavinova CVP-509. Louise is a professional musician and piano teacher based on the Hibiscus Coast.

Club Member, John Beales, playing his Korg Pa500.

Member, Claude Moffat, playing the Club’s Clavinova CVP-509 on his debut at the Club.

Member, Colin Crann, playing his Korg Pa3X (76 note version) on Club Night.

The Photos:

 

           

     

 

Community Music Day at Evelyn Page Retirement Village

It doesn't get much better than this!  A full house of over 130 people enjoyed  a great day of music, companionship, beautiful surroundings, and great food courtesy of Ryman Healthcare! We had close on 40 members turn-up for the venue and somehow we managed to squeeze in about 18 performances and involving some 40 players (including the Evelyn Page Choir of 18 singers). Kudos also goes to our guest artists, Denise and Brian Gunson and John Perkin.

 
What a lovely Village and we are grateful to the preparation work done by our hosts for the day, Dorothy and Trevor Waddel and Julia and Bob Bissett. Credit must also go to our Events Manager, Diane Lyons and our Secretary, Delyse Whorwood, and our Club Photographer, Dennis Lyons for making the background arrangements go so smoothly.

All in all a very memorable day to remember. We have even got an invite back to play again next year!

 

Club Night 7th October 2014

What a wonderful Club Night! Great music from our members in the first half and then a stunning concert by The Dave Hallam Trio. In the first half, Desiree Barrows, Ian Jackson, John Perkin, and Denise Gunson gave great individual performances.  In the second half of the program, The Dave Hallam Trio turned-on a magic concert! Guy Halpe on bass, Damien Shalfoon on drums, and Dave Hallam on Clavinova digital piano. A full house enjoyed the wonderful music.

The Dave Hallam Trio Video:

Our Guest Artists, The Dave Hallam Trio, playing on Club Night.

The Photos from Club Night:

 

 

 

 

 

Coffee Day 16th September 2014

A very nice day was had at Rob and Barbara Powell's lovely home in Henderson. We were spoilt with the choice of the Clavinova CVP-210, Electone EL15 organ, and the very latest Yamaha Tyros 5 keyboard. A great day of music, convivial conversation and nice vitals to enjoy as well!
Thank you Rob and Barbara for sharing your home with us for Coffee Day.

 

  

 

 

Club Night 2nd September 2014

What a wonderful night of music! Great variety in the first half with members playing and then a fabulous concert by our very special guest artist, Deryn Trainer, in the second half. In the first half, Yvonne Moller started the evening off on her Korg Pa1X and followed by Ann Izzillo (all the way from Rotorua) on her Korg Pa3X. Denis Stewart then playing his Yamaha Tyros 4 and to finish off the first half Doug Farr played the Technics GA3 - what a great instrument!
A big thank you to Music Planet who acted as our sponsors for the evening and making the concert given by Deryn possible.

The Videos:

Doug Farr playing the Club’s Technics GA3 Organ on Club Night:

Yvonne Moller playing her Korg Pa1X on Club Night:

Ann Izzillo playing her Korg Pa3X on Club Night:

Denis Stewart playing his Yamaha Tyros 4 on Club Night:

The Photos:

         

 

 

 

 

Coffee Day at Fairview Lifestyle Village –19th August 2014

A wonderful day of music was had by one and all and held in the main lounge of the lovely Fairview Lifestyle Village in Albany. Both the residents, visitors and members of the North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club made up a goodly-sized audience for a most relaxing day of good conversation and wonderful music. It was great to have the cafeteria available with a great choice of light lunches to choose.
A big thank you to the management of Fairview Lifestyle Village and to all the players and attendees for making the day so memorable. A big thank you also to our Events Manager, Diane Lyons, for arranging the venue. Also, thanks to our Secretary, Delyse Whorwood for assisting at the information desk. As always, our guru photographer, Dennis Lyons, did a great job with the photos.