Bay Harbour: September 13, 2023

Bay Harbour News Wednesday September 13 2023
4
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Playing to royals and touring with
Vickie van Uden took up
the role of Sumner Silver
Band conductor about a
year ago. But her musical
career has seen her play
for Prince Charles and
work with Kanye West
as part of the all-women
brass quartet Bella Tromba.
She talks to reporter Sasha
Watson
VICKIE VAN Uden has
travelled the globe to perform at
top international music events
and featured on television and
radio many times.
After more than 20 years as a
professional trumpet player, van
Uden moved to Sumner in 2021
and took up the role of conductor
of the Sumner Silver Band.
One of the greatest memories
of her career was performing
with Bella Tromba at Buckingham
Palace and Windsor Castle
several times between 2010 and
2014 in front of Queen Elizabeth
and the then Prince Charles.
The award winning British
chamber ensemble was founded
in 2004, when four female
trumpet students – Becca Toft,
Emma Bassett, Jo Harris and van
Uden – were waiting for their
orchestral auditions at the Royal
Academy of Music in London.
“Prince Charles was lovely –
he thanked each musician after
every performance. He once
spoke about how he played the
cello, although he would’ve loved
to play the trumpet. He said he
could never make the sound
come out right,” said van Uden.
“One time, I accidentally
opened the wrong door after
getting lost in Windsor Castle. I
didn’t realise the Queen was in
residence only a few doors down,
and I came face to face with one
of the guards who was holding
a gun – I have never been so
scared.”
Van Uden says performing at
the brass band national finals at
the Royal Albert Hall as a member
of Bella Tromba was a high
point in her career.
“Twenty-odd years ago, brass
instrument playing was very
male-dominated. Nearly all
of the students at the (Royal
Academy of Music) were men,”
she said.
“We were very lucky to be able
to take such a niche opportunity
and play together. I think perhaps
why we did become so well
established was partly because
we were breaking the mould
for other women coming into
music.”
TALENTED: Vickie van Uden
has travelled the globe as a
trumpet player and is now
the Sumner Silver Band
conductor.
The ensemble has performed
with famous artists, including
United States rapper Kanye
West and English pop rock band
McFly.
“Working with McFly was
great – we were on a tour bus
travelling with them for about
three months. Kanye was, of
course, very cool to work with
too. We did pre-recorded live
shows with him for charity and
variety shows,” said van Uden.
“Kanye was quite envious
he couldn’t play any brass
instruments. Now, both McFly
and Kanye are very famous, and
Kanye, although controversial
nowadays, remains very
talented.”
United Kingdom stations
Classic FM and BBC Radio have
featured Bella Tromba and they
have performed sold-out shows at
the Cheltenham, Henley and St
David’s music festivals.
“Bella Tromba was also invited
to a perform as guest artists at
the International Women’s Brass
Conference in Toronto, Canada.
It was an amazing experience
to be around so many talented
women. I felt on top of the world
over there.”
Bella Tromba was recognised
as Live Music Now fellows from
2005 to 2010, a charity working
and campaigning to create inclusive
social impact through music.
Bella Tromba have also received
several awards, including the
prestigious Park Lane Group
Award. Born in Salford, northern
England, van Uden found her
passion for music after going for
a bike ride with her father Barry.
“He had us stop outside a
beautiful hall one day when
I was very young. I heard the
most beautiful sound coming
from the doors, and found my
grandfather, Francis Frederick
Curran, conducting a band of
30-plus members. That was it – I
was hooked and began to play the
cornet.”
public meeting
/Agm
Wednesday, 27 September 2023
At 7.30
(Refreshments available from 7.15pm)
No need to rsvp, just turn up.
Speakers;
Clive Collins
Wildlife Photographer
presenting ‘our stunning
estuary birds’
Henry Williamson
Skipper of the Sea
Cleaners vessel
“Cleaning our waterways
from discarded rubbish”
Mt Pleasant Community Centre
3 McCormacks Bay Road, Mt Pleasant
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We have one copy of A Canoe Before the Wind to give away, courtesy of Paper Plus Ferrymead. To be in the
draw, email giveaways@starmedia.kiwi with A Canoe Before the Wind in the subject line or write to Paper
Plus Book Giveaway, A Canoe Before the Wind , Star Media, PO Box 1467, Christchurch 8140. To be eligible for
the draw, all entries must include your name, address and contact number. Entries close Tues September 26,
2023. The book winner of The Resilience Toolkit was EM Kennedy of Sumner.