Our Team
The New Zealand Concert Band Association Executive Committee
Anthony Yelavich
President
Anthony has been a member of the NZCBA Executive since 2016. He currently plays French Horn for West City Concert Band and is the Secretary for West City Band Inc. Professionally, Anthony is a practicing lawyer, specialising in corporate advisory, business transactions and governance.
Leo Jaffrey
Vice President - North
Leo is a leader in the concert banding community, standing at the helm of many of the country’s great bands and communities. This year Leo is back on the leadership team serving as North Island Vice President.
Esther Hunter
Vice President - South
Esther is a professional flautist and piccolo player in the Royal New Zealand Navy Band. Her interests are diverse having completed qualifications in both Medical Science and Music, a testament to her drive and determination to get the job done, and done well. She serves this year as the Vice President South Island.
Alexander Alford
digital lead
Alexander is the current president of the Auckland Symphonic Bands Inc., tubist in West City Concert Band, assistant conductor to two of Auckland’s finest concert bands, and Music Director of the Waitakere Voices Choir. He has diverse interests in music from early Classical music to digital sound-based composition. He brings with him a lifelong history in music and concert banding. On the NZCBA committee, Alex is managing digital content, and the Virtual Band project.
Graham Trail
National festival Lead
Graham has been involved with NZCBA for about ten years, as Treasurer and Festival Lead. He plays bass for many community music theatre shows and played for Manukau Concert Band for over a decade. He is a veterinary surgeon in his other life.
Kathleen Mulligan
Community Outreach Lead
Kathleen has been involved with NZCBA since 1990 when she took her little band from Taumarunui High School to Festival in New Plymouth.
She first became involved with Executive in that same year. She has attended almost every Festival since, including as conductor of Manukau Concert Band from 2002-2014. She is now playing for MCB and enjoying the other side of the musical process very much. She remains an active music maker in her community as a guest conductor, MD of musicals and performer in big bands, shows, concert bands and whatever else comes along.
Kathleen is a Life Member of NZCBA, having served as Vice President and recently President.
Sarah Lam Sam
national festival co-lead
Sarah’s love for banding began in high school playing alto sax in the school concert band. She has fond memories of touring to many festivals. As an adult she joined Manukau Concert Band and, years later, is still with them, now on trumpet and co-president. She thinks community banding is important for those who don’t want to pursue music as a profession but cherish the challenge, personal development and comradery that comes with playing together. She would love to see community banding grow around the country and spread the message that banding and music making doesn’t have to end when you leave school.