Tracy Collins and Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne O.N.Z.M. 21 June 2009, New Zealand

Tracey Collins
and the
Auckland Symphony Orchestra
conducted by
Gary Daverne ONZM

Gary Daverne is well known to accordionists for his accordion compositions and
he has 4 CD Recordings of compositions available online. Solo, duet and ensemble Daverne compositions are available for order online too.

Last Night of the Proms is a very popular annual two concert series featuring popular British music performed by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gary Daverne ONZM, the North Shore 100 Voice Chorale and Friends conducted by Peter Thomas and special guest celebrities.
This is the 9th consecutive year of the concerts where the audience is encouraged to wave your flags, blow your whistles and hooters, sing along and have a fun time to great music.


Tracey Collins warming up backstage.	Conductor, composer and arranger Gary Daverne ONZM and Tracey just before the concert starts.

The Last Night of the Proms includes a large number of performers. About 90 players in the Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore 100 Voice Chorale and Friends conducted by Auckland Symphony Orchestra associate conductor, Peter Thomas.

The Irish part of the concert featured accordionist Tracey Collins, seen here entering the stage playing with Gary Daverne conducting.

Tracey Collins on accordion led the choir singing with Gary Daverne conducting the symphony and audience.

Tracey peformed various well known Irish melodies.

Gary Daverne thanking Tracey Collins at the end of her performance.


Half time with Tracey Collins and Deryn Trainer (piano - vocalist) known as the Billy Joel of the South Pacific.	Steve and Marilyn Collins with their daughter Tracey.

Gary Daverne being congratulated by New Zealand politician Lockwood Smith, Speaker of the House of Parliament of New Zealand.	Tracey with Heather Masefield, Secretary of the New Zealand Accordion Association.

The appearance of Tracey at this concert was part of a promotion of the Coupe Mondiale 2009 being held in Takapuna, North Shore City, 25-29 August 2009. Along there helping promote the concert were Harley Jones and Erica Knights, conductor of the North Shore Musicale Accordion Orchestra conductor.

The audience is invited to join in the singing during this concert. You can see the screen with the words for the audience. This photo was taken near the end of the concert where large numbers of balloons and confetti are released from the ceiling of the auditorium.

Conductor Gary Daverne closing the concert after several encores.

Review
'Last Night of the Proms'
Bruce Mason Centre - Takapuna
20/21st June 2009

I did not go to The Last Night of the Proms with any thought of writing a review, so I took no notes but just threw myself into the whole occasion, together with the rest of the boisterous sell-out audience - with the result that my mind is a blur, having been battered into submission by the barrage of music and humour, once again concocted by Musical Director, Gary Daverne for his Auckland Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore 100 Voice Chorale and Friends.

Frankly, everyone seems to be 'doing' Last Night of the Proms these days, but none like the ASO. Whilst there was the usual sprinkling of patriotic numbers such as 'I Vow to the My Country', 'There'll Always Be An England' and 'Flower of Scotland', it was like no other Last Night that I've ever been to. Indeed until the final quarter-hour or so one could be forgiven for thinking that one was at a cross between the Royal Command Performance and the Crazy Gang.

The Orchestra was, of course, it fine fettle and Gary at his most effervescent, while the Choir, shadow conducted by Peter Thomas, entered wholeheartedly into the mischievous spirit of things. To attempt a musical critique, particularly as a non-musician in my own case, would be to miss much of point of the afternoon.

The audience, many bedecked in flags, tinsel wigs, fancy dress and painted faces, and armed with hooters and streamers, know what to expect on these occasions, this the ninth consecutive year. They were duly treated to a succession of splendid and, in some cases, unlikely cameo features.

The evergreen Max Cryer was as immaculate and humourous as ever with his 'Little List' from the Mikado, accordionist Tracy Collins kept the pace going with some Irish sing along numbers and her impish, virtuoso playing, while pianist, Deryn Trainer gave a fine rendition of 'The Eve of Destruction' from 'War of the Worlds' and an Elton John selection.

Surely a Proms' audience have never been confronted (or do I mean affronted?) by such an outrageous 'Sweet Transvestite', Keith Adams, brilliantly portraying the hit number from the musical, 'The Rocky Horror Show'. Soprano, Louise Malloy eventually brought us back to sanity, leading the audience in the traditional 'Rule Britannia'.

Gary Daverne is a master at putting an entirely fresh show together each year - everything from Gilbert & Sullivan and 'Lord of the Dance' with the dazzling Irish Dancers to 'Starlight Express' and 'The Dambusters March' - not forgetting 'Highland Cathedral' and 'Scotland the Brave' by the City of Sails Pipe Band. Next time Gary, warn the audience that you are going to play 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and we'll all bring our scarves!

It was a wonderful afternoon's entertainment from beginning to end, but my lasting impression will be of the final ten minutes when the balloons descended from the ceiling, the hooters, streamers and poppers were let off at full force, the audience were on their feet, and the whole theatre was one huge party - what a crescendo of colour, sound and sheer exuberance!

BOB DAVIS
June 2009