When Mitch Denne takes to the St Peter’s School stage this evening with the national youth concert band, it’s a safe bet he’ll be familiar with the acoustics.
Mitch Denne plays the congo drums at a recent performance. Photo: Supplied
Now a first-year music student at Waikato University, Denne returns to his former school as a member of the New Zealand Youth Symphonic Winds. The ensemble will also perform at the Town Hall tomorrow morning, conducted by music director Michael Ashton and assistant conductor Athena Shiu.
Denne has played percussion for eight years and is also the drummer for his personal band, Joone.
“I love performing. The thrill and adrenaline you get from providing live entertainment to an audience is not something you can create anywhere else.”
Denne grew up in Cambridge, attending Cambridge East, Cambridge and Leamington primary schools before enrolling at St Peter’s.
Mitch Denne drums at the Smokefree Challenge.
The concerts cap off a week’s rehearsals as part of the New Zealand Concert Bands Association youth development programme.
Twice a year, the group gathers in different locations across New Zealand to rehearse and perform two public concerts for the local community.
Previous concerts have taken place at venues such as Te Papa Museum in Wellington, Christchurch’s public library, Devonport’s ferry terminal during Auckland’s Matariki celebrations, and in Tauranga.
Musicians aged 14 to 19 audition for a place in the band. This year six are from the Waikato.
Denne encourages aspiring musicians to take chances – find local gigs and connect with band members after performances.
“You can’t just expect things to be handed to you.
“You have to go out there and meet people who could eventually lead to opportunities.”
There is no right way to start a music career, he said.
“People will take different approaches to achieving what they want. There are guitarists like John Petrucci and Brian May who studied music at arts universities. There are also people like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen who didn’t go to music school at all and just taught themselves the skills they needed.”
Denne now considers performing music his favourite pastime.
Mitch Denne drums on the St Peter’s School stage last year and will be back there today to play again. Photo: Supplied.
