Club Night 4th December 2012

Our Christmas Club Night was a great success with a record attendance of members and visitors - something in excess of 62 persons in attendance! And what a spectacular treat was awaiting the attendees with the very best of our players giving their all with some superb music and entertainment par excellence! The tradition of Christmas Hampers for our Raffle went very well also with some 12 Hampers won. A big thank you to our members for their generous donation of goodies for the Hampers. A very special thanks goes to George and Jean Watt for once again collecting and packaging the Hampers so beautifully. We were honoured to have join us this evening one of Auckland’s finest pianists, Ben Fernandez B Sc DCS, DMM, BMus(Hons). Ben plays solo and has his own quartet band as well and playing regularly at such venues as Sky City. We are hoping to entice him to come along and play for us next year as our guest artist (fingers crossed!).

The Club President, Gordon Sutherland, recently celebrated his 65th Birthday and the occasion was not allowed to pass unnoticed! A lovely decorated cake and gift were presented to Gordon to celebrate this milestone and as a thank you for all the hard work to keep the Club vibrant.

As always, a big thank you goes to the Committee and door duty staff (tonight it was Yvonne Crann and Sylvia Riddell) as well as “Mrs Mary Claus” (Jeanette Beamish) for making the occasion appropriately festive!

 
      
     
                
    
     

Concert for St Anne’s Club for the Blind 4th December 2012

Part of the Club's ethos, is "Bringing Music To The Community". It was our pleasure today to give a Concert to the St Anne's Club for the Blind prior to their Christmas Luncheon. The honours to play for the members fell upon: Len Hancy (vocals); Peter Brophy (keyboard); and, Gordon Sutherland (keyboard). Len and Peter played together with sing-along style music to get the members’ feet tapping and their hands clapping not to mention exercising their larincs! Gordon played solo alternating with Len and Peter one song at a time. The Concert lasted for 80 minutes and the members seemed to thoroughly enjoy the programme. Gordon played more orchestration type pieces to offset the music hall focus of Len and Peter.

The North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club has a long association with The St Anne's Club for the Blind as we have been playing for them alternate weeks for over 20 years! Great credit goes to George Watt, our Club's former President, for mostly doing the honours and playing for the Club over the last 20 odd years. Today was no exception, so after the Concert, Len, Peter and Gordon were invited to lunch with the members and whilst we feasted George Watt entertained us on the piano with some lovely Christmas Carols.

The St Anne's Club for the Blind has been in operation for some 44 years and so they have the legs on The North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club as we have only been in existence for a mere 35 years!