Playing for a good cause

Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass Band member Simone Arbuckle (20) is one of several Dunedin musicians...
Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass Band member Simone Arbuckle (20) is one of several Dunedin musicians who travelled to Wellington for the first Bras and Brass concert. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON
Performing at New Zealand's first Bras and Brass concert to raise money for breast cancer survivors was an "amazing" experience, two Dunedin musicians say.

The national Bras and Brass ensemble is modelled after the UK's "Boobs and Brass" band and raises money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Two members of the Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass Band played at the concert in Wellington on Sunday, and were joined by three musicians from St Kilda Brass.

Band member Wendy Cockerill said she had known many people affected by breast cancer, including members of her own family.

It was inspiring hearing some of the stories told by breast cancer survivors involved with the band, and an "amazing" experience, she said.

"I think it's a fabulous concept, really.

"I've known quite a lot of people who have had breast cancer, and a lot of other cancers."

Fellow band member Simone Arbuckle (20) said it had been a worthwhile experience and she had been given the chance to meet a lot of inspirational musicians.

The band was overwhelmingly female, but did include a couple of male bass players, Ms Arbuckle said.

The conductor was David Bremner, from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Bras and Brass founder Mike Sander said $4000 had been raised from the concert, and the band would also be performing at the gala concert during the national brass band championships in Blenheim, in July.

About 38 musicians from around the country had taken part, and they only had about a day to rehearse together.

The band included one woman who was being treated for breast cancer, and two breast cancer survivors, Mr Sander said.

"Everyone in the band knew of someone, a family member, or a friend, or a friend of a friend," he said.

"Everyone was touched by it."

More than 3000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and it also affected men, although a lot of people did not realise that, Mr Sander said.

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