The Air Force Proms

Sunday 19 August 07

The band entertains at the Air Force Proms. OH-07-0587-81-tn.jpg.

Dot Lepine

They say “variety is the spice of life”. Well there was plenty of variety at the Air Force Proms concert played to a capacity audience at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.

Compered this year by John McGough, a well known figure in the entertainment industry, the concert got off to a rousing start featuring the Central Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who are renowned for its versatility in presenting a wide variety of musical pieces. This was no exception, beginning with “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines: - very fitting for the 70th Anniversary of the RNZAF - through “El Camino Real”, “Amazing Grace” beautifully led by Piper Sergeant Murray Mansfield, and followed by an amazing arrangement of four dances from “West Side Story”. Sergeant Clyde Dixon on the trumpet then had the audience clapping wildly at his rendition of the “Old Rugged Cross” supported by other solo band members.

The lights were dimmed and Bella Kalolo led the Te Awhiorangi Air Force Maori Cultural Group in the haunting “Tarakihi”. Time for a change of pace again – bring on the grand piano, and the first half of the concert concluded with Catherine McKay and the band playing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”, ending with a couple of well-deserved encores.

Catherine McKay concentrates on her piano piece. OH-07-0587-68-tn.jpg.

The stage presence for the second half of the concert swelled to over a hundred musicians comprising the Massed Band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force with some additional support from musicians from colleges in the Wellington region. Their opening number was accompanied by video sequences of “thumping” Iroquois and a montage of the Air Force at work.

The Massed Bands also played a variety of music including compulsory Proms fare: Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 and Fantasia on British Sea Songs. Soprano Jennifer Little led the audience in “Rule Britannia” and, of course, “Land of Hope and Glory” with the words supplied on both the programme and the big screen – so no excuse for not joining in. Those too shy to burst forth in song could develop their “interactivity” by joining the younger audience with their whistles at the appropriate times during the Sea Songs item.

During the “Colonel Bogey March”, Flight Lieutenant Owen Clarke, the Director of Music and hard-working conductor, was upstaged by three young volunteers from the audience who took turns at conducting the massed bands. One aspiring young man added his own style to conducting by way of a very cool “bottom and leg” movement which had the audience laughing and clapping in appreciation.

Sergeant Clyde Dickson in fine form on trumpet. OH-07-0587-47-tn.jpg.

The Beating of the Retreat Ceremony, featuring the Drum Corps of the Central Band, was preceded by the pipes again, Murray and NZ Police Pipe Band members playing the wonderful “Highland Cathedral” which never fails to bring goose bumps and a well of emotion (especially to those with Scottish blood!).

Bella and the Maori Cultural Group returned to lead the audience in “Now is the Hour”. The Massed Bands performed a rousing Finale which included the Drum Corps, dressed like The Village People, performing the perennial favourite “YMCA”. Streamers were thrown, balloons cascaded and the audience responded with enthusiastic applause.

You like to be entertained. You enjoy variety. You leave feeling good. Then the Air Force Proms could be just what you need. FLTLT Clarke creates a great programme every year enjoyed by all judging by the wide variety of ages in the audience this year.