Now in it's 44th year, the Thames Music Group is a not-for profit incorporated society that promotes and presents music performances in Thames, on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand for the enrichment of our local community.
The Group has been running continuously since 1977 and is run by a small team of dedicated volunteers with a passion for music.
The Thames Music Group funds its activities through membership fees, private donations and grants where possible. Our activities are largely made possible through the generosity of many.
Throughout the years Thames Music Group has presented a very wide range of musical entertainment to the public through its monthly Free Friday Lunchtime series (45 minutes) and monthly full Sunday Concerts in the beautiful St Georges Church.
Groups with players from throughout NZ have performed here to the delight of the audiences.
Entertainment has included piano solos, organ recitals, choirs, vocal groups, solo singers, instrumental groups and quartets, student and professional performers in wide genre of music.
Friday Lunchtime SeriesUsually on the fourth Friday of every month a FREE concert is held at 12:15pm at St Georges Church.
The Friday Lunchtime Series are free, but entry by donation is greatly appreciated. The next free Friday lunchtime concert is on FRIDAY 23RD JULY KUMEU VINTAGE BRASS BAND Kumeu Vintage Brass is a band comprising over 40 experienced brass musicians who have played in over 85 brass bands in New Zealand and overseas. The average age is 75, the oldest member is 88 and the average playing experience is 44 years - such passion serves only to enhance their musicality and you can expect this to be evident at all their events. Defining the band is easy: they do not march, compete or otherwise put themselves under pressure – they’ve all been there, done that and now just want to relax, play music not only for their own pleasure but also so that others may enjoy the fruits of their passion. Their concert programmes are not typical of brass bands. Instead, they showcase toe-tapping, sing-a-long numbers such as “New York, New York” and heart-string-tuggers like “Amazing Grace” and “Land of Hope and Glory”. Fun numbers such as “Can Can” and “Hava Nagila” have also been known to feature. However, they might also include a title from an album such as “Don’t Cry for me Argentina” but they don’t forget our roots – there is always a rousing march as well and they endeavour to ensure each piece is treated with all the overtones and innuendoes the original composers and performers intended. KVB has established a reputation and a following as a variety concert performer par excellence. They play to packed audiences with music an audience wants to hear and as a consequence they receive accolades and standing ovations. Always by invitation, they have performed at numerous venues with increasing popularity and have quickly developed a reputation for quality and musicality by playing what their audience wants to hear and playing that well 
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Sunday Afternoon Series
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ABOUT THAMES
Thames is conveniently situated only a ninety minute drive from Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. In the late 19th century, Thames was one of the largest towns in New Zealand's - built on the pioneering industries of gold and Kauri logging. Today, its colourful history is still alive in the many pubs, buildings, museums and activities found in the area. Thames has a population of approximately 7,500.
For more information about Thames see http://www.thamesinfo.co.nz// or http://www.thecoromandel.com/towns/thames
For more information about Thames see http://www.thamesinfo.co.nz// or http://www.thecoromandel.com/towns/thames
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Our Supporters
The Thames Music Group have always been extremely grateful for the support of St Georges Church for the continued use of their lovely church.
We are grateful too for generous grants from Creative New Zealand, the Thames Coromandel District Council and the Waikato Community Trust which help in paying for professional performers, and with the upkeep of the piano, but most of all we are grateful to the people of Thames who have supported us over the years, and we hope will continue to do so.
We are grateful too for generous grants from Creative New Zealand, the Thames Coromandel District Council and the Waikato Community Trust which help in paying for professional performers, and with the upkeep of the piano, but most of all we are grateful to the people of Thames who have supported us over the years, and we hope will continue to do so.
