Thirteen-year-old Y9 student Emily Sullivan (pictured right) has proven she is one this country’s top secondary school trumpet players, having been selected for the National Secondary Schools Brass Band North Island Camp.
It’s not the first time Emily has shone this year – she won three awards at the Auckland Band Association Solo and Ensemble Competition in August (a first, second-equal, and third). The talented musician plays trumpet in the Westlake Symphony Orchestra, Westlake Concert Band and sings in Cantare choir (the premier girls choir).
The four-day camp was held in TaupÅ, and consisted of 44 of the best secondary school brass and percussion players from schools throughout the North Island. The week before a similar camp had been held in Christchurch with 40 students from South Island schools.
Students apply and are selected for the band, enabling them to attend the camp which consists of full-band and sectional rehearsals all building to a concert on the final day. As part of the course, lectures and practical sessions were held on topics including conducting, anxiety and nerves, instrument maintenance and correct breathing. The band this year featured international cornet soloists Harmen Vanhoorne (who teaches at Westlake) as well other specialist tutors.
Liam Wright from Westlake Boys was the lead (principal) cornet in the band and won the prize as best cornet player across both the North Island and South Island bands.
Emily said she really enjoyed the camp – especially making so many new friends and contacts from across the North Island.
The camp finished with a sold-out concert, which is available on the National Secondary Schools Brass Band Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nssbbnz/