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Club Night 5th August 2025

 What a great night of music! A good attendance and some terrific music spanning lots of genres and eras. The evening started with arrival music provided by Warren Levick on our Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano - a good half-hour warm-up session! Thank you, Warren. To start the formal proceedings, Ian Jackson played the Clavinova with some great individual arrangements of classical pop songs like Billy Joel's Piano Man. Great start to the evening, thanks Ian. Next up, Yvonne Moller played her Korg Pa3X arranger workstation with some great beats and the music was really syncopating! Well done, Yvonne. Finally, Patrick McMillan played the Clavinova again with some lovely melodies by the such as Burt Bacharach. Nice playing and superb arrangements, thanks Patrick.

After the Raffle and Refreshments break, our guest artists were Ben Fernandez on the piano, his son, Josh, on sax, clarinet, bass guitar, and cajon - but not all at the same time, and Bosco Fernandez who is Ben's brother now residing in Auckland who played some amazing duets with Ben. As always, a very polished and thoroughly enjoyable concert of popular songs from the last 50 years. Thank you, guys.

The Guest Artists Video:

L:R: Ben Fernandez on piano and accompanied by his son,
Josh on various instruments, and Ben's brother,
Bosco Fernandez on piano

The Photos:

Warren Levick provided the arrival music on our 
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ian Jackson playing our 
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Yvonne Moller playing her
Korg Pa3X arranger workstation

Patrick McMillan playing our 
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ben Fernandez playing our 
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ben Fernandez and brother, Bosco Fernandez,
dueting on our Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ben Fernandez and brother, Bosco Fernandez,
dueting on our Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano
and joined by Ben's son, Josh, on cajon

Josh and Ben Fernandez mixing piano with sax

L to R: Ben Fernandez, Josh Fernandez, and Bosco Fernandez

Coffee Day at Northbridge Village

 As part of the Club's ethos of "Bringing Music to the Community", we had a lovely day at Northbridge Village in Northcote, North Shore, Auckland, NZ. Six of our members did turns of playing the Village's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-609 ensemble piano and indeed, one member brought along his arranger keyboard to add variety to the proceedings. The residents and our members seemed to really enjoy the music and certainly our Raffle was well patronised! We have been visiting this Village for at least 10 years and always a thoroughly enjoyable day - good music, good catering, good camaraderie.

The Photos:

Warren Levick playing the Yamaha CVP-609 ensemble piano

Susan Verran playing the Yamaha CVP-609 ensemble piano.
This was Susan's debut playing in public
so very well done!

Graeme Webber playing the Yamaha CVP-609 ensemble piano

Gordon Sutherland playing his Korg Pa5X arranger workstation

Patrick McMillan playing the Yamaha CVP-609 ensemble piano

Ian Jackson playing the Yamaha CVP-609 ensemble piano

Club Night 1st July 2025

 A really good night of music - lots of variety, styles and wonderful musical entertainment. The evening started with a half-hour mini concert by Brian McMurray playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano. In the main body of the first set, we were entertained by Graeme Webber on the Clavinova using some of the rhythms, layered sounds and added vocals to boot! Next up, Peter Longbottom played his Korg Pa600 with some memorable songs including some Scottish classics. To finish the first set, Len Hancy sang 5 songs that epitomized his youth in London, England and accompanied by backing tracks. Thanks, guys, for your great music.

After the Raffle draw and a refreshments break, we were ready for our guest artists, Jill and Joe Fingers. Jill providing vocals on some songs and Joe played his Yamaha PSR-S950 arranger keyboard in his inimitable style! Joe focussed on playing some of his favourite songs including some Irish ballads. As always, a very polished and entertaining concert.

                                          The Video:

 Jill and Joe Fingers. Joe on his Yamaha PSR-S950 arranger keyboard
and Jill providing additional vocals

The Photos:

Brian McMurray played the arrival music on our
 Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Graeme Webber played our
 Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 with some added vocals

Peter Longbottom played his
Korg Pa600 arranger keyboard

Len Hancy sang with backing tracks with a story
of his London young life experiences

Our guest artists, Jill and Joe Fingers.
Jill providing vocals on some numbers and Joe singing and playing his
Yamaha PSR-S950 arranger keyboard

Coffee Day at Knightsbridge Village

 What a wonderful Coffee Day at this delightful Lifestyle Village - Knightsbridge. We were thrilled to have two of New Zealand's finest pianists come along voluntarily to share their music with the residents and our Club Members in attendance. Namely, we had 19-year-old competition winner Hana Tani come along and play some classical pieces to start the morning for us and then to end the Day later in the afternoon, well known pianist, composer, impresario and music educator Ben Fernandez gave us an impromptu 20-minute mini-concert of light music with a theme of 'sunshine' given that it was a lovely sunny day! Some of our very talented pianists also played for us with Patrick McMillan giving two performances during the day.

The residents seemed to lap the music up as so they should with such an array of talented musicians. The Club's ethos is "Bringing Music to the Community" as well as holding Club meetings monthly at our Club rooms.

All in all, a splendid day of music and lots of catch-up chatter amongst our members as they enjoyed the exuberant surroundings, good catering, and wonderful music!

Some videos will be slotted down below once edited.

          

The Videos:

Ben Fernandez playing the K. Kawai grand piano

 Yuko Tani playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Hana Tani playing the K. Kawai grand piano

The Photos:

Guest artist and Club member Hana Tani performing on the K. Kawai grand piano

Yuko Tani playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Claude Moffat playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Mary Elvin playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Warren Levick playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Graeme Webber playing the K. Kawai grand piano

Patrick McMillan playing the K. Kawai grand piano

The entrance lobby and our Entry Desk

Some of our members and residents enjoying the occasion

Well known musician, Ben Fernandez,
kindly came along and gave us a mini concert.

Club Night 3rd June 2025

 Some great music provided by our members in the first half and by our guest artist in the second half. Warren Levick provided the arrival music and also gave an impromptu performance to cover for a playing for a member that was indisposed. Well done Warren and you're playing was near picture perfect too! Claude Moffat played the Clavinova piano also to start the evening off - thanks Claude for a nice selection of pieces. Also, in the first half, Gordon Sutherland played his Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard with some added vocals for extra depth - some songs using the original artists' voices and some by Gordon himself.

After a great refreshments break, courtesy of our Catering Manager, Jan Ellin, we were ready for our guest artist, Denise Gunson, a professional upmarket cocktail bar pianist who played the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 to great effect and some pieces played as straight piano and some with rhythm backgrounds. A lovely selection ranging from Cole Porter, Paul McCartney. and Chris de Burgh to name some of the artists songs played most exquisitely.

The Videos:

Our guest artist, Denise Gunson, playing the Club's
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 

Warren Levick playing the Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Gordon Sutherland playing his

Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard

The Photos:

Claude Moffat playing the Club's
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Gordon Sutherland playing his
Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard

Warren Levick playing the Club's
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Our Guest Artist, Denise Gunson, playing the Club's
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Coffee Day at Mayfair Village

 What a lovely day at this lifestyle village, Mayfair. We were made most welcome by the Management and enthusiastically received by the residents and their guests for the day. We had a reasonable turnout of our members to listen/play although other commitments meant some of our regular member/players could not attend.

The Photos: 

Gordon Sutherland playing his Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard.
Photo courtesy of Warren Levick.

Denise Gunson playing the Steinway grand piano

Warren Levick playing the Steinway grand piano

Mary Elvin playing the Steinway grand piano

Club Night 6th May 2025

 What a great night it was! Good crowd, lots of laughter, and fantastic music! Warren Levick provided the Arrival Music and followed by Ian Jackson. Due to sickness our second member could not turn up and play for us, but serendipity stepped-in and a former member, Paul McIsaac, happened to be in Auckland and came along. A quick nod of the head and he stepped-into the fray and played five great pieces for us. Wonderful music, thank you Paul. To finish the first set, Warren Levick played the Clavinova for us using the built-in rhythms/styles to great effect. Superb music in various styles by our three players in the first set.

After the Raffle and superb refreshments in the interlude (thank you to our new Catering Manager, Jan Ellin for the scones and bikkies) we were ready for our guest artists to perform. The band is called "Viva Jazz" and consists of Darren Smith on keys, Dean Tremlett on bass guitar, and Matt Hennessey on drums. Some great light jazz was enjoyed together with lots of friendly banter between the band and the audience. It was great to have some of the Band's fans turn-up to enjoy the fun. All in all, a great night of music.

The Videos:

Our Guest Artists, Viva Jazz, 
L:R Darren Smith; Dean Tremlett; Matt Hennessey

Ian Jackson playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Paul McIsaac playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

Warren Levick playing the Club's Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809

                                                 

The Photos:

Our Guest Artists, Viva Jazz. 

From L:R - Darren Smith; Dean Tremlett; Matt Hennessey

Warren Levick playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Ian Jackson playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano

Paul McIsaac playing the
Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 ensemble piano.
Paul was playing 'cold' as he just happened to be in Auckland
and agreed to play a few numbers for us!

Coffee Day at Greenwich Gardens Metlifecare Village 23rd April 2025

 What a lovely day spent playing music at Greenwich Gardens Village. We played to an appreciative audience of residents, our members, and visitors who had come along especially for the occasion! They have a lovely Boston grand piano (made by the Steinway Company) that was enjoyed by all that played it. For variety, we also had a Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard to add an orchestral dimension to the music. As this was a school holiday period, Wu Liu, a member of our Club, brought along 11 of his students to play a piece each for us - mostly on the piano one sang and another student played his violin!

All in all, a very pleasant day enjoyed by all who attended.

The Photos:

One of Wu Liu's students playing the Grand Piano

Some of the proud parents listening to their children performing

Wu Liu's students receiving their Certificates of Merit for their great performances

 

Wu Liu played a lovely classical piece for us as well

A regular player at the Village, Roderick Isaacs, kindly gave
a 30-minute concert for us 

Club members, Mary Elvin

Club member, Gordon Sutherland, played his
Korg Pa5X arranger keyboard

Club member, Brian McMurray

Club member, Warren Levick

Club member, Patrick McMillan playing
the Boston grand piano