Prescott Club 29th April 2009

Gordon Sutherland, President of the North Shore Amateur Organ and Keyboard Club acted as MC for the concert as Peter Brophy was on vacation in the South Island (playing his Korg at various Probus Clubs on the way down and back). Thanks go to John Beales and Des Rouse for providing the great music on their own keyboards. These concerts are part of the Creative Keyboard Club of Browns Bay and the North Shore Amateur Organ and Keyboard Club's effort to take our music out into the wider community. Certainly, it is satisfying when the Prescott Club members show their appreciation of our music - it makes the effort well worth while!

Whilst Des was playing the first time around, yours truly stuck the PA leads into the Aux In sockets and wondered why there was no volume coming from the PA speakers! Des kept cool anyway, and the problem was solved before he played his second song.

 

John Beales playing his Yamaha PSR-S500 keyboard. John played two sessions and his song selections were:

April Showers; Baby Face; The Nearness Of You; Bye Bye Blackbird; Sally; Red Roses For A Blue Lady.

Nice arrangements and played very smoothly John.

 

 

 

 

Des Rouse playing his Yamaha PSR 3000 keyboard. Des did an 'Elvis' session first time around playing: Love Me Tender; Can't Help Falling In Love; Teddy Bear.

In his second session, Des did a Frank Sinatra selection: I Left My Heart In San Francisco; Three Coins In A Fountain. That got the members stomping in the aisles! Well done Des. Time was running short so Des never got to do his final piece "The Lady Is A Tramp". Hopefully, next time around Des.

 

 

 

With time limited, Gordon Sutherland just played two pieces in each of his two sessions. His chosen songs were:

This Boy (Lennon and McCartney); Ferry 'Cross The Mersey (including Gordon's pre-recorded vocals!); The Magnificent Seven; and the theme from the movie "Exodus".

 

 

 

 

 

The concert had no sooner seemed to have started than it was time to finish. I must learn to play "Happy Birthday" - very embarrassing as I generally only play 'the dots' and when asked to play for two members birthdays yours truly was stumped! Still, as a penalty, I had to sing "Happy Birthday" instead and I hope Dennis and Erika enjoy their special day.

And now the real heroes, the wonderful members of the Prescott Club enjoying their Wednesday morning and luncheon. Thanks also go the support team for the Prescott Club including: Wendy; Leslie and Dennis (caterer).

Coffee Day at OSNZ Inc. 22nd April 2009

In lieu of our mid-month, Monday Coffee Day, we were privileged to be invited to the Organ Society of New Zealand Inc. (OSNZ) at their Club premises at 17 Akarana Avenue, Mt Roskill. Approximately 17 NSAOKC members made the trek over the bridge for a 10.30am friendly welcome of delicious Devon scones and a cuppa. The Club Rooms were set-out in cabaret format so we could eat, talk and enjoy the music from the comfort of our individual tables. Everybody that wanted to play got at least two turns to play as Alan Dadson organized the schedule of players very well, alternating between an OSNZ player and a NSAOKC player. Then at about 12.30pm we were treated to a wonderful banquet put on by the OSNZ Club members. The playing continued until about 2.30pm at which time a final cuppa and eats were available as the lovely day was wound-up. A huge thank you, from the NSAOKC members that availed themselves of the visit, to the Committee and members of the OSNZ for making this such a special day for us. The OSNZ share their superb facilities with the Mt Roskill Tennis Club and they are fortunate enough to have storage for the wonderful musical instruments: Allen Theatre Organ; Lowrey Celebration Theatre Organ; Yamaha Clavinova CVP-307 and a Yamaha PSR 8000 keyboard. The instruments were well tried on the day as well as Barbara Powell's Tyros3 keyboard. Gordon Sutherland from the NSAOKC took his Korg Pa1X along for the ride and enjoyed the opportunity of playing to such great music enthusiasts. Here are some of the photos from the day from which you should be just about able to hear the music ringing in your ears!

Rob Powell welcoming the NSAOKC contingent, whilst Alan Dadson busily checks his player roster to make sure everybody's musical playing appetite was satisfied.

 



OSNZ's magnificent Lowrey Celebration Theatre Organ that is about 2000 era. What a gorgeous sound and so many features to play with!

 

  

Above: Colin Crann; Ken Mahy; Jim Nicholson

      

Above: Gordon Sutherland; Colleen Kerr

Above: Gordon and Colleen again dueting; Roy Evans

     

Above: George Watt; Peter Littlejohn giving Gordon Sutherland's Korg a 'whirl'

Below some of the OSNZ players entertaining us

                

                   

 

    

 

                 

 

            

 

       

 

        

 

    

 

   

 

      Dorothy Waddel, Rob Powell, Arne Rule and Barbara Powell playing some
                          Marches in recognition of Anzac Day coming-up
                        Photo courtesy of Colleen Kerr, NSAOKC Secretary

Club Night 7th April 2009

A really great night's entertainment with some of our senior players performing for us in the first half. The evening started-off with Roy Evans making his Club debut by playing the arrival music on the Clavinova and play it very nicely he did too - thanks and well done Roy!

 

Roy Evans entertaining us with the arrival music on the Clavinova

 

 

 

 

 

Phyl Briscoe then played the GA3 organ with a couple of very nice arrangements.

 

 

Phyl Briscoe 'looking the part' on the Club's GA3 organ.

 

 

 

 Phyl was followed by Takashi Iida (Taka), who also played the Technics GA3 organ superbly - what great sensitivity to the music and wow what incredible pedal work!

     

Takashi Iida played sensationally for us on the Technics GA3 organ. Don't worry about the nerves Taka - we all suffer that when playing in public!

The first half of the evening was finished-off by Barbara and Rob Powell who brought along their brand-new Yamaha Tyros3 arranger/keyboard. Rob played solo on both the Clavinova and Tyros whilst Barbara chose to play her pieces on the Tyros. We were also treated to some great duets. Lovely and very polished (as usual) Barbara and Rob - thanks for bringing all the gear along to make the performance so special.

     

                                    

Kane Steves gave us a fabulous mini-concert in the second half.

  Kane turned-up armed with a veritable truck-load of sound and PA gear to make sure this was a mini-concert extraordinaire! Kane used his professionally produced backing tracks to his CD to play through his iPod which he interfaced with the Club's Clavinova. Kane then played the piano part on the piano in real time - fantastic! Kane also showed-off his vocal talents by singing along with some of the numbers. He also brought along and played a couple of tunes on the new Korg Pa500 arranger/keyboard which has some great sounds and touch screen technology for simplicity of operation - very nice and at a very competitive price too!

                                

                                   

President, Gordon Sutherland, thanking Kane Steves for a great mini-concert

Our Treasurer, Jim Nicholson, was kept busy writing receipts for annual subscriptions and pre-bookings for the Richard Hore Concert scheduled at our Club for Sunday, 24th May 2009 with a 7.30pm start. This really is a concert not to be missed as Richard is one of NZ's finest theatre organists and of course as he has a Technics GA3 organ at home himself you can imagine the music and arrangements will be incredible. Contact Jim Nicholson if you want to guarantee your seat on the night - visitors welcome.

As always a big thank you to the Committee for making the evening such a wonderful occasion. Colleen Kerr (Secretary), Delyse Whorwood, George Watt, Jean Watt, Jim Nicholson (Treasurer), Ken Mahy.

The raffle of a water jug and glasses was won by our new Refreshments supervisor and Committee Member, Delyse Whorwood.