OUR HISTORY
The Napier Technical College commenced in 1909. Its brass band formed in 1929. Weekly practices were held in the evening between 7 and 9 pm much to the annoyance of the people attending night classes at the college. A quote from the college magazine 1929, “The Naperian” “…. though much discordant, our band is emerged into its present state …this was due to the energy after Mr Hopkinson. We must not forget something for we are adept of £50 from the Borough Council toward our band expenses“. At the time of the Napier earthquake on Feb 3 1931 the role was 338. Eight boys and one girl lost their lives at the school. The Napier Technical Memorial Band remains as a perpetual memory to these children and to the original band.
Following the earthquake the band continued its existence serving the people of Napier with concerts, carolling and dances. It also attended national and Central District Brass Band competitions. Between 1980 and 1990 Tea Dances held in the Technical Rooms in Whitmore Park were very popular with the public. In 1997 under the musical directorship of Martin Sobleman from USA, then head of music at Napier Boys High School the band switched to being a concert band. The aim being to provide opportunities for woodwind players to enjoy playing in a band with a storied history. Subsequent musical directors have continued on this tradition – Brian Kennedy (1999-2002), Stephen Gibbs (2003 -2005), Angela Warmke (2006), Christopher Wilson(2007-2009), Jane Stone (2010-2014), Hoani Hawaikirangi (2015-2021) and present musical director Christopher Wilson.
