First rehearsal of the National Youth Brass Band of Tonga. Photo: Reverend 'Eloni Tu'akoi Niu
Sometimes, good things come out of tragedy.
On Christmas Eve 2016, a bus carrying the Mailefihi Siu'ilikutapu College Brass Band crashed down a bank near Gisborne.
Two members of the Tongan school band were killed, another two members of the touring party would die from their injuries later.
Dave Bremner. Photo: supplied
When the news reached Wellington Brass musical director and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra trombonist Dave Bremner, he felt the need to do something to help.
He ended up travelling to the college on the island of Vava'u. At the time, he wasn't sure what he could do - perhaps offer some teaching, or bring some replacement instruments from New Zealand.
What Bremner discovered was a brass band scene and culture so strong he had to go back to Tonga again, and again.
Out of those visits, the last of which involved Bremner taking some of his fellow New Zealand Symphony Orchestra brass players, he began to think about the possibility of getting the best of Tonga's young players performing together.
He put the idea to his Tongan brass band hosts, and they decided to run with it
Next month, Bremner will be back in the island kingdom to officially begin his latest project: music director of Tonga's National Youth Brass Band.
The group's already gathered for a few rehearsals on Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, under the leadership of local bandsman, the Reverend 'Eloni Tu'akoi Niu.
Tonga's enthusiasm for brass bands matches that of any other nation. Bremner estimates maybe up to half of the its high school children play a brass instrument.
"One day you could play an instrument just like this": Dave Bremner preaching the brass faith to school children in Tonga. Photo: Supplied / David Bremner
Bands are a fixture in church on Sunday, official events, celebrations and funerals.
Bremner remembers staying in one village and witnessing a massive band passing by in procession. It was heading to a funeral and was playing what Bremner can only describe as a mix of Tongan hymns and African American-tinged gospel and blues.
There's no shortage of players, and for every group of Tongan teenagers in a high school band practising, Bremner says, there may be a group just as big watching outside wanting to be in on the action.
The challenge for the National Youth Brass Band will be finding good instruments, and good instruments are expensive.
Emblem of the National Youth Brass Band of Tonga Photo: David Bremner
Bremner already has a ongoing project getting pre-loved New Zealand instruments to Tonga, with help from Auckland-based instrument seller and repairer, ABI Music.
The cost of getting players from around Tonga's far-flung islands is another barrier the band will have to overcome, and Bremner has set up a "Give-a-Little" page to help raise funds for the new ensemble.
However, while Bremner is looking forward to his latest musical director job, it doesn't mean he's abandoning his posts in New Zealand for the tropics. After all, he has just lead Wellington Brass to another win at the National Brass Band Championships.
Next month's trip to Tonga is just for five nights.
Longer term, Bremner aims to pass on his skills to Tonga's own band leaders.
He'd love to see Tonga's National Youth Band tour, maybe even emulate the performance of the Kiwi-Tongan brass band that became the subject of the movie Red, White & Brass, which inspired Tonga's rugby team to defeat France at the 2011 World Cup.
And beyond that, he'd love to see youth brass bands from right across the Pacific coming together in one celebration.
