New tutor lifts band's
performance
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City of Tauranga Pipe
Band was delighted to welcome Alexis Ferguson as drum tutor in the latter part of 2013.
Alexis has developed a record of excellence over many years competing, tutoring and
examining Pipe Band Drummers throughout the UK and Europe before relocating to New Zealand
from Scotland. She has won titles at the World, European, Cowal, British and Scottish Pipe
Band Championships with various bands, and also attained recognition at the World Solo
Drumming Championships.
Alexis has undoubtedly lifted the performance of our band, playing leading side drummer
for most of the current competition season. She has rewritten our drum scores and assisted
Pipe Major Warren Aitken and Drum Sergeant Philip Lewis to bring the band together
resulting in much improved ensemble scores and contest results.
Since arriving in New Zealand in 2007 Alexis has tutored St. Andrew’s College band in
Christchurch to National Championship success in Juvenile and Grade 2. Then, after taking
over the direction of all drumming in the South Canterbury organisation, they became NZ
National Pipe Band and Drum Corps champions in grade 4. After their promotion to grade 3,
she again led them to become National Champions. |
As a drummer with the
Auckland and District Pipe Band, Alexis has won the New Zealand Grade 1 Pipe Band
Championships in ’09 and ’10, and also the New Zealand Grade 1 drum corps
championships for every year she has been a playing member. Also with Auckland and
District, Alexis represented New Zealand at the Festival Interceltique in Lorient (France)
and qualified for the Grade 1 World Championship Final (Scotland) in 2010. She is a valued
member of the tutoring staff for the National Summer School, run annually by our National
Body, the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association.
She is an accredited New Zealand drumming adjudicator and runs international Piping &
Drumming Qualifications Board Examinations for students throughout country. She is also a
tutor for the New Zealand National Youth Band. Alexis’s impressive contribution to the
Pipe Band movement is well recognised and she is a much sought-after teacher, judge, and
player around New Zealand.
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2013-14
Contest Season
Hamilton
Gardens, November 2013
This contest kicked off the contest season for our band and was a first test of some new
drum scores and a new slow air in the Medley. The band placed 1st in the drumming and 2nd
overall for the contest.
Square Day, Palmerston North, December 2013
This is the second biggest contest of the season for our band - the biggest being the
National Championships in March 2014. The band placed 1st in both the Set and the Medley,
winning piping, drumming and ensemble.
Paeroa Highland Games, February 2014
The band warmed up in wet, hot and breezy conditions for the first contest after the
Christmas break. The sun came out in time for the bands to enter the competition circle.
City of Tauranga placed 2nd in the Set and 1st in the Medley for an overall placing of 1st
based on aggregate points.
Central North Island Pipe Band Contest, Rotorua, February 2014
Competing bands again faced the challenge of the elements and the rain came down just as
City of Tauranga started the Street March. This would be the last competition before the
National Championships in Tauranga on March 7-8. We placed 1st in the Street March, Set
and Medley and also won the drumming cup. |
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