Christchurch trombone talent says sky's the limit
Dale Vail probably sealed his future at the tender age of two when he accompanied his father to his first brass band concert.
Asked by his dad Bill Vail which instrument he would like to play one day, the toddler didn't hesitate.
"I pointed to the silliest looking one."
Vail didn't get to play the trombone until about age 8, however.
His arms weren't long enough at 5 so he took on the next best challenge and played a baritone which has the same pitch but uses valves rather a slide.
Vail, an ex Burnside High student, has just completed a first class honours degree on the trombone at Victoria University's New Zealand School of Music. He heads to Melbourne this month where he has secured a prestigious place in the orchestra at the Australian National Academy of Music.
He will give a lunch-time concert at St Marks Church at 150 Withells Rd in Avonhead this Saturday to raise money for a much-needed new trombone for his continued studies.
Vail turned 22 last month and is principal trombone for the National Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Brass Band. He is reigning national trombone champion for two consecutive years and has a list of accolades to his name.
He is looking forward to the next step. The Australian academy is dedicated to the artistic and professional development of "exceptional" young Australian and New Zealand musicians.
"It quickly exposes you to musicians who will help you along," Vail said.
He hopes to spend two years at the academy, which is funded by the Australian government and includes a small living allowance. He expects to find part-time work.
He also writes his own music is doing a series of You tube videos and multi-tracking.
He credits Burnside High and its program with pushing him beyond what NCEA required.
His dream job would be in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, or the Melbourne Symphony.
"I definitely want to stay on this side of the world," he said.
Vail hails from a musical background. His father plays tenor horn, two sisters both play cornet and his mother is singer.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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37.3% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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62.7% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Scam Alert: Bank cold calls
ASB is warning customers about reports of cold calls from scammers claiming to be from ASB. These scammers are trying to obtain personal information, including usernames, dates of birth, and verification codes sent to your mobile phone.
🛡️ The "Caller Check" Test
If you get a call from someone claiming to be from ASB and you’re unsure, just ask them for a Caller Check. You will then be able to verify the call through the app.
Remember, banks will:
❌ Never ask for your banking passwords, PINs, or verification codes
❌ Never need to know your full credit card number – especially the CVC
❌ Never ask you to download software or remotely access your device
❌ Never ask you to purchase gift cards or transfer funds.
If you have received a phone call and think your account has been compromised, call ASB on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or visit your local branch.
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