It started in 1985…
My journey to the National Band of New Zealand echoes the story of my brother, and current Musical Director of the National Band, David Bremner.
In 1985, my father (Trevor Bremner) and my uncle (John Edgecombe) were selected to represent New Zealand in this prestigious ensemble. After returning from a successful trip where they won the top prize at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, they played a concert on their home soil, which was recorded and played on TVNZ (Channel 1 back in those days). Obviously, at the age of 3, I had no idea what the National Band was about and how amazing their performance was. That realisation came when I was in high school when I found an old VHS tape with the recording of that concert. From the moment that the band started playing Dvorak’s Carnival Overture at the beginning of the concert, I was mesmerised by what I was hearing and I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a New Zealand National Bandsperson.
Fraser (6 years old) at a Central Districts Youth Band Camp (as a spectator) hitting the timpani for the first time
For a good portion of my childhood, my whole family played in the New Plymouth City Band. My father (Trevor) was the Musical Director, my mother (Betty) played percussion and accompanied soloists at contests, and my three older brothers played in the band too (Stephen - played cornet followed by percussion, Mark - played cornet, and David - played cornet… followed by baritone… followed by triangle (in a display march)… followed by euphonium… followed by trombone… I think I got all of that list in). I, like my brothers, started on cornet. I worked my way up from the Learners Band to the Junior Band and then to the Senior Band, where I made it all the way to bottom seat Solo Cornet. But the whole time, I kept my eye very keenly on the percussion section. I was always captivated by the range of sounds, tones and musical colours that came from the back of the band (behind the basses). I eventually put down the cornet and picked up the drumsticks.
While I was in high school, I was lucky enough to have been selected for the National Youth Orchestra (1999, which my brothers Mark & Stephen were also part of) and the National Youth Band (1999 - 2004). Playing alongside some of the country’s best up-and-coming brass players and percussionists (and orchestral musicians in the NYO) allowed me to set my sights on where I wanted my musical journey to take me. A big highlight for me was the 2003 National Youth Band tour to the United Kingdom (featuring David as a guest soloist), which included a stopover in Los Angeles to perform at Disneyland, a performance in Westminster Abbey on Anzac Day, and a joint concert in the UK with the world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band (which featured fellow Kiwi, and ex-National Bandsperson, John Lewis, on Principal Cornet).
Fraser (snare drum) marching next to his father, Trevor (cornet), on a street march with the New Plymouth City Band
From 2001 until 2003, I had the privilege of being a member of the New Zealand Army Band. During my two and a half years with the band, I managed to perform all over New Zealand and had two trips overseas. The biggest highlight was travelling with the band to Scotland to perform in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2002. This was Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and she was in attendance at one of the performances - so to say that I have performed for the late Queen was a big thing to tick off my musical bucket list.
Over the years, I have had the amazing experience of performing at contests and concerts with many of New Zealand’s top brass bands, including North Shore Brass, Woolston Brass, and Waitakere Auckland Brass. In 2007, I joined Wellington Brass for the first time. At the time, the band was in the B Grade and they were led by their new Musical Director (in his first ever MD role), David Bremner. In 2014, with Wellington Brass, I experienced for the first time being part of an A Grade band that won the NZ Brass Band Championships. This, for me, was repeated again in 2022 and 2023 with WB. Being part of this world class band has been a life changing experience for me, one that gets better and better every time I hit the stage with the band.
Fraser in uniform for the 1999 National Youth Band of New Zealand
On the 6th March 2020, while setting up for my first rehearsal as a brass band conductor, I was shocked when I saw on a Facebook Live video (featuring Dave, Band Manager Garth Coffey, and interviewer Byron Newton) that I made the cut for the National Band after auditioning. Sadly, most of the plans for that year collapsed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the case for the next couple of years. But over the last 3 years, every time that I have collaborated with this incredible group of musicians has been nothing short of extraordinary. Being part of the same brass banding tradition that includes my father, three of my uncles (John & Richard Edgecombe and Graeme Bremner), and my brother is incredible. At times, I do have to pinch myself to check that this is all real!!
It’s always a thrill to go on an overseas trip. But to travel across the ditch on the National Band’s 70th anniversary and to show Australia how strong brass banding is in Aotearoa will be something very special.
Australia… bring it on!
