Club Night 3rd December 2019

A great end to a super year of music. Our last event of the year was our Club Night on Tuesday, 3rd December 2019. This was the first time we have used the Club Rooms since they have been refurbished with new carpets, wall seats and fresh painting. A near full house attended including lots of visitors! Arrival music was kindly provided by Jim Nicholson on the Clavinova. We were then treated by 13 year old Hana Tani who played a Christmas medley as well as a superb rendering of Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu. Next up, Warren Levick, played the Clavinova using the rhythm features of the instrument. At the end of the first set, we held the Christmas Hamper Raffle. We had 11 buckets on offer as a result of the kind donations of our members and the hard work of our Secretary, Delyse Whorwood, who coordinated the Hampers collection and presentation over the last 3 months. For our refreshments break, Our Catering Manager, Karen Steen, setup a great supper with mince pies and chocolate biscuits. In the second set we were entertained by Jan and Kevin Johnston who came down from Algies Bay to play for us. Jan and Kevin had a theme of Latin songs which we thoroughly enjoyed. At the end of the evening our MC and President, Gordon Sutherland, wished everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

The Videos:

Hana Tani playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509

Jan and Kevin Johnston playing at the Club. Jan on her Korg Pa1X and Kevin on his Crafter acoustic guitar.



The Photos:

Jim Nicholson played the arrival music on the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509

Hana Tani playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509

Warren Levick playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509

Jan and Kevin Johnston played the second set for us. Kevin on his Crafter acoustic guitar and Jan on her Korg Pa1X

Some of the Christmas Raffle Hampers due to the kind donations of our members

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Year End Party at Fairview Lifestyle Village

To celebrate a great year of music and fun, The North Shore Music and Keyboard Club held its Year End Party as the guests of the lovely Fairview Lifestyle Village. We gathered from 2.30 pm in the master lounge of the Village and members played until 6 pm which included a 4.30 - 6.00 pm Happy Hour! Some great playing on the Village's grand piano and on the members' keyboards brought in for the occasion.

We had a record number of attendees (42) for the Christmas Ham Dinner and Chocolate Cake Dessert which kept us busy until 7.15 pm whence our host for the day, Diane Lyons, drew the raffle with four lovely prizes on offer. It was then time for our Band to fire up and get the feet moving and tapping on the dance floor to a theme of latin based favourites. Thank you Jan and Kevin Johnston for once again acting as our Band for the Year End function and also, to our host at Fairview, Len Hancy, who added spice to the music with great vocals.

A big thank you to Diane Lyons who kindly acted at MC for the day and Len Hancy for acting as MC for after dinner activities. As always, a big thank you to our Raffle Desk team which consisted of Kay and Russell Boyes and Dale Everiss - all looking resplendent in their festive season clothes. Thanks also to Patrick McMillan for helping with the set-up given our President, Gordon Sutherland, was somewhat indisposed on the day.

So, a great year of activities for the Club is drawing to a close with just our final December Club Night to go.

The Photos:

Kay Boyes playing the grand piano

Claude Moffat playing the grand piano

Diane Lyons playing her Korg Pa900

President, Gordon Sutherland, showing off his additional two legs!

Dale Everiss and Russell Boyes manning the Raffle Desk

Some members and residents relaxing to the music

Brian and Eleanor Teviotdale enjoying the occasion

Our member and resident host for the day, Len Hancy, finding a moment to relax

Patrick McMillan enjoying a quite moment

Audrey Henden and Karen Steen checking-in at the Raffle Desk ably manned by Russ Boyes and Dale Everiss

Audrey Henden and Karen Steen buying their raffle tickets

Yvonne Moller playing her Korg Pa3X

Our Entry Desk nicely decked-out to reflect the approaching festive season

Roy Steen playing his Korg Pa300

Brian McMurray playing the grand piano

Audrey Henden playing the grand piano

Our host for the day, Diane Lyons

Rod Moffat playing his Korg Pa4Xx

Rod and Nelleke Moffat - Nelleke providing the vocals

Denise Gunson playing the grand piano

Some members and residents relaxing to the music

Patrick McMillan playing the grand piano

Ian Jackson playing the grand piano

L:R: Karen Steen, Delyse Whorwood, Audrey Henden and Pauline Beales grooving to the great latin beat

Kevin and Jan Johnston - Kevin on his acoustic guitar and Jan on her Korg Pa1X

The full Band, Len Hancy on vocals, Kevin Johnston on acoustic guitar and Jan Johnston on her Korg Pa1X. Great music with a latin theme and certainly got people up and dancing. Thank you so much.

Club Night 5th November 2019

What a great evening for our Club Night and what a drama leading-up to it! When the team arrived to start setting-up for the evening's Club Night at our Club Rooms at the Takapuna Bowling Club, we were faced with our room filled with painters and paint covers on the floors and the ceiling lighting disconnected. It transpires The Bowling Club have been upgrading the Rooms but forgot to tell us that the facility would not be available this month! After a quick phone call the owner of Music Planet Takapuna, Roger Smith, we hurriedly rushed down the road to Music Planet and started setting up as best we could there. Diane Lyons, Delyse Whorwood, Kay and Russ Boyes frantically phoned our members to tell of the last minute change of venue! It was gratifying therefore that we had a good attendance of members and visitors to enjoy the music.

The arrival music and a 15 minute first set performance was given by Roy Steen on his trusty Korg Pa300. Also playing for us in the first set was Rod Moffat on his Korg Pa4X and Nelleke Moffat who sang some songs along with Rod accompanying on keys. Diane Lyons also played for us on her Korg Pa900 including some impromptu singing and invoking some audience sing-along. Great stuff in strange surroundings!

Our guest artist this month was Kane Steves who is the Departmental Manager for Music Planet Takapuna Piano and Keyboard Department. This was a quirky co-incidence that we had to relocate for the evening to his work place, Music Planet! Kane gave a great Concert on a top-of-the-range Yamaha Clavinova CVP-709 digital ensemble piano together with some songs played on a Korg Havian 30 digital ensemble piano. It was great that Kane not only played the instruments beautifully but also briefly mentioned some of the features of each instrument before playing each song.

All in all a great evening of music if somewhat organized in a mad rush! Our eternal thanks to Music Planet Takapuna for letting us use there shop for our Club Night on very short notice! It a funny sort of a way, it seemed appropriate to be surrounded by hundreds of pianos, keyboard and guitars for the concert!

A big thank you to Diane Lyons, Delyse Whorwood, Russ and Kay Boyes for frantically phoning all our members to tell them of our change of venue. Also, a big thanks to Patrick McMillan for helping with the set-up and controlling the video recorder for the evening.

                                           The Video:

Our November guest artist, Kane Steves, playing a Yamaha CVP-509 and a Korg Havian 30. Due to unforseen circumstances we had to relocate the venue for the evening to Music Planet Takapuna. The Club is most grateful for the venue being made available with no prior notice possible.

The Photos:

Diane Lyons playing and singing along with her Korg Pa900

Rod Moffat playing his Korg Pa4X

Rod and Nelleke Moffat playing for us. Rod on his Korg Pa4X and Nelleke on vocals

Roy Steen played the arrivals music and gave a performance on his Korg Pa300. Seen here surrounded by a plethora of keyboards and guitars!

Our Guest Artist, Kane Steves, playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-709

Our Guest Artist, Kane Steves, playing the Korg Havian 30 ensemble piano for us

Coffee Day at Northbridge Village

A goodly number of our members turned-up to enjoy this wonderful day at the lovely Northbridge Village. This was our second visit to this Village this year - returning by popular demand! What a great day it turned-out to be with lots of playing members enjoying the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609 and the Korg Pa4X arranger keyboard. As always, we were well supported  by a large number of residents who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the music of all types and genres. This Village has an excellent kitchen and so the cafeteria was very popular for lunch.

A highlight of the Coffee Day was the improptu arrival of professional musician, Ben Fernandez, who gave us a 30 minute mini-concert. Ben played the Clavinova and wow can he make it sing! Ben focussed on a medley of Beatles songs taking us down memory lane but with Ben's own inimitable touch and unique arrangements. All-in-all an absolutely lovely day of music, convivial company and great surroundings. Thanks to all the Committee members who contributed to making the Day go so smoothly and making it so special. A special thanks to our member and host from Northbridge Village, Jim Nicholson, together with the Village's entertainments chairperson, Pat White.

The Photos:

Kay Boyes playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Russell Boyes controlling the Raffle/Information Desk with Kay Boyes playing in the background

Gordon Sutherland playing the Korg Pa4X

Claudette Wheeler playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Diane Lyons playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Michael Bramley playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Audrey Henden playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Ian Jackson playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Impromptu guest artist, Ben Fernandez, playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609

Patrick McMillan playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609. Patrick played after Ben Fernandez - a hard act to follow but Patrick played beautifully. Thank you Patrick.

Club Night 1st October 2019

What a fabulous evening of musical variety. A good-sized attendance of members and visitors were entertained firstly by our guest band, Conundrum, who played for the first hour of the programme. Conundrum are based in the Warkworth/Wellsford area of North Auckland. They have played for us twice before and their name is very appopriate as it is hard to batten-down their genre of music! What a great conert they gave us - thank you so much guys. After a refreshments breakm, three of our members played for us. Firstly, Kay Boyes played piano for us using her semi-classical style but great numbers we enjoy. Next up, Brian McMurray played piano for us is a nice easy light jazz style. Well done guys - great music.

The Videos:

Our guest band on Club Night, Conundrum



Brian McMurray playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-509 on Club  Night



The Photos:

Conundrum

Conundrum - Cathy Busbridge

Conundrum - Julia Withers and Jeff Hobbs

Conundrum - Peter Thomas

Club Member - Brian McMurray

Club member - Kay Boyes