Musical Director

Dwayne Bloomfield was born and raised in Timaru where he started learning the
Euphonium with the Timaru Municipal Band. Dwayne went on to join the
New Zealand Army Band in 1987 serving for 26 years holding many positions,
including Bandmaster from 2005 to 2010.
There were many highlights for Dwayne in the NZ Army Band including the 1988
Bicentennial Tattoo in Australia, trips to Greece and Crete, Washington DC, Vanuatu,
Edinburgh, Gallipoli, Italy and Switzerland, the changing of the Guard at Buckingham
Palace, performing for the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee Pageant and three
performances at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Dwayne was appointed Musical Director of the Alpine Energy Timaru Band 1998
gaining success at national competitions and gained the Band promotion to the B
Grade. Under Dwayne’s direction the Band won the Australian B Grade Champion
title in Tasmania 2004.

Dwayne also had successful conducting stints at Ascot Park Invercargill Band and
Canterbury Brass. He now conducts the Rangiora RSA Club Band who recently
gained promotion to the C Grade.

Always having an interest in arranging and composing Dwayne has become
internationally known as a composer of note. An interest in New Zealand’s military
history inspired him to compose the work “Behold the Narrows from the Hill” based
on the battle of Chunuk Bair in Gallipoli, followed by “Passchendaele October 12th,
1917” which was performed at the 100th Anniversary of the battle in Passchendaele.
More recent works include “Lone Pine” for the National Australian Band and “The
Liberation of Le Quesnoy” performed at the 100 th anniversary of this battle in Le
Quesnoy. Dwayne’s latest work "Armistice at Flanders Fields" was performed around
the world on Remembrance Day in 2023.

Dwayne also composed the march “Fernleaf Headstones” for the New Zealand Army
Band which was played during the procession for the Unknown Warrior through the
streets of Wellington. Other works include “To the Sky” for the 100th anniversary of
Richard Pearce’s first flight, “Epiphany” commissioned by the 2007 New Zealand
National Band and “7.1” in remembrance of the Christchurch Earthquakes. A special
commission entitled “Rocket Brigade” was written for the Alpine Energy Timaru
Band’s 150th Anniversary.