Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Christmas Special Club Night 6th December 2016

What a great way to finish the Club's year with a splendid Christmas extravaganza. A change of venue just for this month saw us at the luxurious Knightsbridge Village. Arrival music was nicely done by Audrey Henden on digital piano. Five of our senior members then entertained us for half-an-hour each to give us a feast of wonderful and varied styles of music. First up, Peter Jackson entertained us on his Yamaha PSR-S950 keyboard with vocals and jokes thrown-in to the mix. Next, Taka Iida gave us a mini-concert on his lovely Electone two-manual keyboard - wonderful skill and magnificent arrangements. After a scrumptious refreshments break including the traditional mince pies, we were entertained by Rob and Barbara Powell. Barbara on the Tyros 5 and Rob on the Tyros 5 and a digital piano for the duets. Well done one and all. A lot of effort goes into choosing appropriate pieces to play and then to get them honed to perfection!
The Christmas Hamper Raffle went down very well, with 16 prizes on offer. Thanks to our members for the donations of food and drink to make up the buckets. Also, a special thanks to Colin Crann for making 6 wood-turned musical novelty pieces for the raffle.
A special thanks to Delyse Whorwood, our Secretary, who had spent the last 3 months accumulating and preparing the Hampers as well as doing a splendid job in the catering department.
We are also grateful to Committee Member, Margaret Black, for arranging the venue for us this month as a double booking meant we had to change location for this one Club Night.
The Committee of the NSOKC takes this opportunity to wish all our members and online followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy/Prosperous/and Healthy New Year. Thanks to our members for their patronage during the year and we hope to bring lots more musical adventures in 2017.
The Videos:
Takashi ‘Taka’ Iida playing on Club Night at The North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club.


Rob and Barbara Powell playing on Club Night. They are using their Yamaha Tyros 5 (76 note version) together with a Korg SP-250 digital piano.
The Photos:
Audrey Henden played the arrival music on a Korg SP-250 digital piano. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Peter Jackson got the evening off to a great start with a mixture of keyboard, vocals and jokes! Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.
Taka Iida played his portable Electone keyboard for us. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Some of the ten Christmas Hamper Raffle buckets. There was also 6 hand-turned music based wooden jars and trays kindly donated by Colin Crann. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.
Rob and Barbara Powell played some solos and some duets for us. They brought along their 76 note Tyros 5. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. 

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Year End Party at Okura Country Estate 19th November 2016

Despite miserable Spring weather, we held our Year End Party at the fabulous and exclusive Okura Country Estate Community Hall and courtesy of our host, Dave Winslade. We gathered at 2 pm and carried on until 8 pm with around 40 members in attendance and nearly as many keyboard! We had a fab BBQ despite the weather with lovely salads and sausages etc for dinner and followed by some scrummy cheese cake and apple crumble and cream. As a thank you to our members, the catered dinner was gratis and paid for from Club funds. Everybody tucked-in vigorously for dinner after a long but pleasurable music session all afternoon. After dinner the music carried on and culminating in a mini-concert by Denise Gunson on the digital piano.

A big thank you to our Secretary, Delyse Whorwood, who took the brunt of the logistics to bring all the kitchen equipment and food/beverages. Margaret Black had organized for the caterers to prepare the salads and desserts for us to pick-up on the morning of the venue – thank you Margaret. Thanks goes to Ken Mahy for bringing his Korg SP-250 digital piano. A big thank you also to Rod Moffat for handling PA system duties on the day.

To add to the fun, we held a hat competition for the Party and this was judged by our host, Dave Winslade. The eventual winner was Brian Gunson with his home made ‘mad hatters’ top hat complete with bullet holes!

All in all, a great Year End Party at a wonderful location.

The Photos:

  Laurie Concer playing his Roland BK-9 keyboard. Kay Boyes playing Ken Mahy's Korg SP-250 digital piano.

Ron Klingin playing his Korg Pa80. Gordon Sutherland playing his Korg Pa4X,

Dorothy Waddel (piano) and Julia Bissett (vocals). Yvonne Moller playing her Korg Pa3X.

Rod Moffat playing his Korg Pa3X. Nelleke Moffat (vocals) and Rod Moffat on his Korg Pa4X.

Claude Moffat playing Ken Mahy's Korg SP-250 digital piano. Our host left, Dave Winslade, and Gordon Sutherland looking in through the window wilst braving the drizzle, wind and cold to cook the sausages on the BBQ for dinner.

Diane Lyons playing her Yamaha PSR-3000. Roy Steen playing his Korg Pa80 and his Korg Pa300.

Audrey Hendon played her acoustic guitar and sang with Roy Steen accompanying on the keys. Delyse Whorwood and Margaret Black enjoying a break from kitchen duties. Photo courtesy of Diane Lyons.

The likely lads enjoying the Day! L:R: Peter Longbottom, Rod Moffat, our host Dave Winslade, and Peter Jackson. Photo courtesy of Diane Lyons. Members enjoying the Day. L:R: Audrey Henden, Russ Boyes, Emily Bacon, Karen Steen, Kay Boyes, Pauline Beales. Photo courtesy of Diane Lyons.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Club Night 1st November 2016

A great evening with our members doing the honours in a DIY. Eight of our members shared their music with us - what a wonderful variety of music and styles of play. Our members playing ranged in age from 10 years to 80 years! We had Club Night debuts from John Holster, Ron Clingin and Mary Elvin – well done to you!

The Videos:

Club President, Gordon Sutherland, playing his Korg Pa4X on Club Night 1st November 2016.

Phoebe Zhang playing the Club’s Clavinova CVP-509 on Club Night 1st November 2016.

Diane Lyons playing her Yamaha PSR-3000 on Club Night 1st November 2016.

The Photos:

John Holster playing the arrival music. This was John's debut on Club Night. Well done Johe! Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. President, Gordon Sutherland, playing his Korg Pa4X. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Phoebe Zhang played our Clavinova CVP-509 beautifully. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Phoebe Zhang played our Clavinova CVP-509 beautifully. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Phoebe Zhang played our Clavinova CVP-509 beautifully. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Mary Elvin playing the Club's Clavinova CVP-509. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Our Events Manager, Diane Lyons, playing her Yamaha PSR-3000. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Part of the audience enjoying the music. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Claude Moffat playing the Clavinova CVP-509. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Ron Clingin playing his Korg Pa80. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Claude Moffat playing the Clavinova CVP-509. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Yvonne Moller playing her new Korg Pa3X. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Roy Steen playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Coffee Day at Delyse Whorwood’s home

What a splendid Coffee Day! The weather was good, the company was good, the music was great, and the food was bountiful and tasty. What more could you ask for? About 18 members came along and played Delyse's Clavinova and Korg Pa1X keyboard. It was a warm welcome to Coffee Days for our relatively new member, John Holster.A very big thank you to Delyse for all the trouble she went to make the day memorable and also to Diane and Dennis Lyons for supporting Delyse. As usual our members got stuck in to kitchen duties to share the work. Gordon Sutherland could not be present due to sailing commitments.

The Photos:

Our gracious host for the day, Club Secretary, Delyse Whorwood. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Dagmar Tennant and Audrey Henden in the foreground. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. George Watt, John Belaes and Roy Steen. John Holster in background at the Clavinova. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Michael and Annabelle Bramley enjoying the occasion. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. John Holster on Coffee Day debut and playing Delyse's Clavinova. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

A view from the upper lounge area. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Audrey Henden, Dagmar Tennant and Yvonne Moller enjoying lunch. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Yvonne Moller enjoying the music. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Diane Lyons and Dagmar Tennant deep in conversation. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Michael Bramley giving the Korg Pa1X a whirl. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Val Alison and Dagmar Tennant - they are sisters. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Star of the show (next to our gracious host Delyse of course) is Poppy a Shih Tzu - and  a master in the art of begging! Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

George Watt entertaining the membes on the Clavinova. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Roy Steen tickling the ivories with Edith Fyfe observing. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Roy's tempo is irresistible not to dance to! Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Convivial conversation. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.

Audrey Henden playing the Clavinova. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons. Delyses Day 16 26

Pauline Belaes, Karen Steen, Diane Lyons and Dagmar Tennant relaxing to the music. Photo courtesy of Dennis Lyons.