CHRONICLES
OF
KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB
The club was first known as the Northland Organ Club. And later changed to the
Northland Organ and Keyboard Club until March 2010 when the name was changed
to
KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB
*Interest in the Formation of an Organ Club, was raised because of an exhibition by Steve Ekloar in August, 1980. Karl Urbahn took a notebook to the Hall where the concert was to be performedOF
KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB
The club was first known as the Northland Organ Club. And later changed to the
Northland Organ and Keyboard Club until March 2010 when the name was changed
to
KEYBOARD MUSIC CLUB
and asked interested people to write down their names and contact phone numbers.
*The first meeting was held in the Morningside School on Tuesday, 9th September, 1980. Wards Music Shop loaned us a Lowrey Jamboree organ. A Committee was formed with Wes Carrington as the first President. First Vice President was Karl Urbahn. First Treasurer was Garth Tattersfield and the Subscription was set at $5 a year per family.
*First House party was at John Davis and Julia Laws' home at 34 Otuhiwai Crescent, Tikipunga on Saturday 27th September, 1980. They had a Lowrey Citation Theatre Organ and a Yamaha D 80. Members used to phone in the early days to ''Book A Seat"
* A second meeting on the 25th September, saw a group of people from Tinopai( Don Ovens), Tangiteroria,-( Graeme Phyn and Gwenda McLean) from Maungaturoto-(Max and Marion Wallis) and from Maungakaramea-Ken and Pam McLennan arrive. We set a door fee at 50 cents per night · Our youngest member was Lisa Dickson- a teenager who played flute and organ.
* The third meeting was held at St Pauls Church, Kamo which had an old RIHA. for us to play. Guest artist - Margaret Harris whom we later met at Noosa, in the Gold Coast of Australia on a Club visit.
* On the 25/2/81 we went to the Raumanga Uniting Church centre in Murdoch Crescent.
* In March 1981. we had our first Progressive organ party in the Tangiteroria District where we visited three homes and played on three different organs.
* In July 1981, Bill Maxwell came down from Kaikohe ,bringing his Hammond organ. He was well known in Kaikohe where he played gigs at the local pubs and performed at other functions. -a very versatile player.
* Tony Fenelon came to Whangarei in July 1981, over from Melbourne to play at the Mandalay in Newmarket demonstrating the Lowrey range.
* On the 12/13 September we had a visit from members of the Organ Society of NZ. The organ used was a full pedal board Lowrey organ loaned by J an Mills and also a Lowrey Citation loaned by John Davis. Dance music supplied by Ron Citrine, Karl Urbahn and others. We did visits to the Seventh Day Church to see and play the new Gulbransen and on to Christ Church to play the pipe organ in the Loft.
* On the 19th November 1981, Wards Music Store donated a Farfisa 255 RK to the club- NO MORE BORROWING.
* From February, 1981 the Club went to Forum North's Bounty Room. We had a lock-up cupboard for the Organ and plenty of parking.·
* 1982 · Easter 1982 (from 9-12th April) saw a group travel to
Hillsborough (0SNZ) . We had house parties organised, a social evening, a workshop on the Allen Organ followed by a concert by members of both Clubs.
* April, Peter Parkinson gave a demonstration of the Baldwin Fanfare at the Whangarei Intermediate School. He played some wonderful music but we had a disappointing audience as there was another musical function on at Forum North that evening. We remember the rendition -"The Arrival Of the Queen of Sheba" · Also in April. a Japanese girl, Miss Vedo, demonstrated a Yamaha Organ at Pomery's Music Shop. She displayed a wonderful technique and was very versatile.
* August 1982, saw AI and Jackie Wright -as they were known then,-played some duets at our Club night .No need to communicate verbally,-,they seemed to sense what each other wanted. AI is blind but a real maestro on many instruments. You name it-he could play it. Jackies' forte was the piano but she was equally at home on the organ or vibraphone.
* During November 1982, the Club was invited to play for a week at the Equinox Cafe(downstairs)-during the lunch hours. Players included John Davis, Karl Urbahn, Gwyneth Frear, Julia Law, Wes Carrington, and Garth Tattersfield. The patrons were most appreciative. This was done to give the Club exposure and not for money.
* In November we also visited Wards Music Shop where we were invited to playa variety of organs, and Keyboards, and of course to buy music. Sixteen club members took advantage of this offer.
*In December 1982, we had a dine and dance social at the Vintage car Club rooms. Good fun.
*Year 1983 In February we were invited to an evening at the Kamo Music centre who were the Agents for Baldwin, and Thomas Organs. Graham Bocock made the 19 members very welcome.
* April 1983-Club members played the organ outside the Tikipunga Woolworths store for three hours in the late afternoon and raised $30 for our funds.
* Also in April, Marie Efford, from Dargaville and a NZ Champion Accordionist, was our guest artist on Club night. What a magnificent player and it was a joy to listen to her. She won the Open Solo Championship in
New Zealand and later went to the World Contest in Austria.(Marie later married and became Marie Masefield)
* In June 1983, the club took part in the Telethon for two days during the month-great fun but badly organised. The Club donated $26.52 for'one Sundays playing.
*July 1983, We held a variety concert to raise money to help Marie Efford to get to Austria. She played several of her test pieces as well . The concert was held in the Whangarei Boys High School Hall. The concert also featured the bagpipes, country and western singing, the Schools Fideliter jazz combination, the North Shore Accordion Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra and a flute quartet. It was a wonderful afternoon's music and Marie benefited by a goodly sum to help her travel expenses..
* September 1983 at the A. G.M our Constitution was formally adopted.
* The Club left Forum North in 1985 and we just had House parties for a while. We also traded in the Farfisa for a Technics E 33.
* From January 1986, we had our new club rooms at the Y.W.C.A lounge in Rust Avenue.
* February 1986, we joined in the Club Expo at forum North and we had an Organ stand and performed during the day and evening sessions. Our music was well received .We used Gwen Mackley's Hammond organ at the Expo.
*April 1986: _Some members travelled to Tauranga where they had a chance to play on the Allen at St Johns Church and also the mighty Wurlitzer at the Tauranga Town hall.
* During June, members played before and during the interval at the Film Festival held at the Odeon Theatre.
* The First Saint Cecilia Concert was held -named after John Hunts research into the Patron saint of Music. Our special guest artist was Marie Masefield. We raised $150 for the Mammography Unit.
* In February 1988, Musical Sounds of Auckland sent Peter Parkinson up to demonstrate the Yamaha FE 70. a Technics EX 70 ,a Baldwin Cabaret and a Roland HP 3000S-a digital piano. He played classical to Jazz and gave us a fantastic evening of music.
* The Dargaville Club was started in March April 1988 with about 8-10 families showing a keen interest.
*In June 29th 1988 we bought a Technics EX 70, one of the nicest instruments the Club ever had.
* The Whangarei music Festival was held between the 22nd July to the 6th August, The Organ club was represented by Christine Ody and Peter Urbahn.
* August 1988, saw a group of the club members travel to the Kingsgate convention Centre in Auckland to hear Mike Oudewaal playing.
* September 1988. Concert at the Pono Masons Lodge in Dargaville.A valve type Organ made by Alf Fruin Ball., three manuals, full pedalboard was made available.The Whangarei members who tried it out were Wes Carrington, John Hunt and Julia Law.
* October 1988, .An Organ promotion was held in Dargaville. David Lee from the Orewa Music Supplies demonstrated. This concert was well attended by Club members and the public.
*November 1988. We held a Dinner and Show at the WOADDS . Club members were asked to play a Baldwin Marquee Organ before and after the Show. A great musical time was held by all after the show. Julia went very well on this Organ playing everything in the albums she had with her. Everyone was singing along and we all had great fun.
* 1989 February. A concert at the Hollywood Theatre to see the organist Robert Wolfe in action on the Wurlitzer. All the Club members thoroughly enjoyed the Concert.
* April 1989. saw the Club have a cake and Produce stall in the Mall with the members playing the Organ. A whopping $452 was raised on this occasion.'
* This year saw our first venture into the performing Arts Competitions. Andrew Zieren came first, May Warner second and Peter Urbahn was placed third.
* 1990-1991 · A concert was held in Dargaville and $100 was raised.
* June 1990:- Mid-Winter dinner party held in Dargaville .Altogether 58 members and families attended.
* October 1990;-saw Julie Marks from Dargaville being appointed our Patron.-She was our oldest member .Also in October, Mabel Palmer of Ruakaka, became our First Life Member because of her great services to the Club.
* October 1990;- Mystery Trip organised by John Hunt, Seven car loads started out-some got lost and disappeared never to be seen again' We started out at Kamo and visited the Limestone Rocks near Hikurangi then journeyed on to Ruapekapeka Pa (The Bat's Nest) the scene of a great battle between the Maori chief ,Kawiti and the English Forces. The Maoris had constructed very ingenious defenses with many palisades and tunnels and they had ample supplies of food and water from a well inside the Pa. The English used Artillery to shell the Pa with little effect.
We then visited the Ngawha Springs near Kaikohe before moving on to see the Colonial Village which was unfortunately shut. We had lunch there and then proceeded on to the Mangungu Mission house at Horeke on the Hokianga Harbor. Here Leo Hitters ran out of petrol- even though members had been asked to have a full tank before leaving the petrol station at Kamo. John Hunt saved his bacon by approaching a local who sold Leo 4 gallons of petrol. We then pushed on through Horeke to Okaihau- back to the main Highway which some people very pleased to see and home to Whangarei.
* February 1991-We played in the Mall to make money for the Chris Hewlett Appeal. We played non-stop for 5 hours and raised a FANTASTIC $1100.!!!
* March 1991 saw a visit from the Hibiscus Club from Orewa. There were home visits, visits to several Churches to play their Organs, lots of music at the hall at night, plenty of food and much talk. Many friendships were made that weekend.
* On the 31st May 1991, Yamaha brought out a young Japanese Organist who demonstrated an EL 90 at the Portobello Hotel conference Rooms." There was a packed house. From memory, she played, amongst other pieces, Star Wars. It was fantastic.
* August 1991 the Performing Arts Competitions were held… First place to May Warner and Christine Ody and Andrew Zieren came second equal.
* October 1991:- The Christchurch Organ Convention was held. Six Club members went down-Pat and Colin Head, Margaret and Andrew Zieren, John Davis and Julia Law, --Andrew and Julia played in the Club Items on the Sunday night. There were concerts by Richard Hore, Barry Brinsen, and Ichikawa from Japan. Thank Heavens we did not know they were in the audience when we played.
It was hard enough performing in front of over 300 people-we did not know there were expert players there as well.
* November 1991:- Trip to Orewa Music Supplies to hear a Japanese Organist demonstrating the Yamaha EL 60.
*1992 · A momentous occasion when we learnt that our application to the ASB Bank for a grant had been approved. We received a very welcome grant of $3,000 which with our savings enabled us to purchase a Yamaha HC 4 W.
* Later in the year, at the performing Arts competitions, Andrew Zieren won both Classes while May Warner came second.
* We invited Al Roberts to be our Guest Artist at Club night. Although unwell, he thrilled the crowd on the Organ the Keyboard and the Piano.
* August 1996:- The Club provided lunch and music for two bus loads of people at the Onerahi Yacht Club. A few Hundreds of dollars was raised to augment our funds.
* In November 1996, our Club Treasurer, Margaret Brown, was made a Serving Sister of the Order of St John, Her Investiture was held in Tauranga. Her sister, another Club member,-Doreen Rhodes was honoured with the same Order back in February, 1993.
* In February 1997, the Club held a Hawaiian night which was very successful. Ken Hayden came disguised as a dusky Maiden with two strategically placed coconut shells in the right places. !
* April 1997, we had as our Guest Artist, the famous NZ Accordionist, Harley Jones who thrilled us with his exciting music- World Class Artist.
* May 1997;-We held a Quiz night- Bert Boswell distinguished himself by awarding points indiscriminately to the wrong groups. His partner in crime was Richard Holdaway who ran round giving out lollies to the wrong people.!
* August 1997.-Darren Smith from Auckland entertained us. He is a born entertainer and a great salesman. He once sold an organ to a man with no arms. He was certainly wonderful to listen to.
* March 1998. The Club was invited to participate in a concert to raise money for the Parkinson's Society in the Bougainville Theatre. Guest Organists from Auckland were Bill Mitchellhill, he plays the Wurlitzer at the Hollywood Theatre and Linda Stenberg from Waiheke Island. Darren Smith also entertained in his usual versatile manner and there were some very pleasing duets and trios during the evening.
* Easter 1998. Julia and John went to the Organ Convention in Adelaide .Four wonderful days of non-stop music, food and talk. Lots of concerts with overseas and Australian Artists. Highlights for both were the hands on, on the mighty four manual Wurlitzer organ.
* March 1999. Visit from the Waiheke Club. House parties and a musical evening at the Club rooms. It was a fabulous weekend and a great time was had by all.
* April 1999;-Our club rooms were flooded out by a severe storm. Everything was moved or put on blocks. Fortunately nothing was damaged but the club rooms had to be re carpeted and repainted.
* May1999,. A group of members went to Waiheke Island where most were billeted-wined-some more than others-and dined-and we had great fun. House parties, sight seeing and plenty of good food. A most enjoyable weekend.
* August. 1999.:-We went to hear the Bavarian Accordion Orchestra at the Dargaville lighthouse centre Pot luck dinner. 30 club members went over by bus and had a great evening. Wonderful music, fabulous harmonies. Was well worth the trip in the middle of the week.-even if the Orchestra, whose ages ranged from 12-34, never smiled while they were playing! But they were real experts..
* Also in August, Darren Smith came up to demonstrate and hopefully sell the latest Technics organ- an EA 5 and guess what--the Club traded the existing organ and bought the new EA 5, probably the best deal we ever made according to the experts in our Club who were not impressed with the previous Technics GN 5 which was too complicated for most of the members.
* Nell Sketchley was the only entrant at the Performing Arts Competition in August 1999. It was the first time Nell had entered and she not only won First Prize in the Keyboard section she also won the Jacqueline Tansfield Trophy..
* In September 1999, the Club held an Art and Craft night with a silent auction to raise money for the Teenage cancer Group-Canteen-.We raised $200 for them.
* February 2000' - saw Darren Smith come up to demonstrate the KN 5000 Keyboard. He sold one or two to club members.
* March 2000, We had a return visit from the Waiheke Club. We held as social evening at the Clubrooms with a Country Theme. Some red Indians arrived on their Cayuses, One red Squaw captured many hearts-the Sheriff had a hard job keeping the palefaces in Line after their heavy carousing. A wonderful evening with much music, much hilarity and much fun-which is what our club is all about. On the Sunday we met at the Presidents home for more music, yarns, food by the mile and some drinks. Then late in the afternoon, our friends left with an invitation for our members to return later in the year to Waiheke Island.
*June 2000 Pot Luck Dinner by candle light.
*July 2000 Dargaville's Organ Safari.
*September2000. Charity Concert for Braille, a lot of fun and a silent auction raised over $200.
*October 2000. Club trip to Waiheke Island Club with special guest artist Richard Hoare. A great time for all who participated.
*November 2000. A fun day at Nancy and Basil Finlayson's Kai Iwi Lakes home.
*December 2000. Club's Christmas Dinner with competitions, hotly contested
quizzes and a singalong, an enjoyable time for all.
*February 2001. Jim and Shirley Jones hosted a most enjoyable house party.
*March 2001. Country and Western night a real ol' hoe-downin.fun night.
*April 2001. Concert and keyboard demonstrations by Mainline Music.
* September 2001. Club visit to Hibiscus Organ and Keyboard Club a wonderful day of fellowship, food and music.
Also a charity concert was well attended and raised $200 for the Northland Hospice.
* December 2001. All enjoyed a great Christmas party.
2002-2010 data in progress available soon.
