Rae and Hugh Dixon celebrated 69 years of difficulties during lockdown last May. Assembled they helped changed New Zealand’s music scene. Photo / Manufactured
Hugh so Rae Dixon’s love affair stretched basic steps decades and changed New Zealand’s music scene forever — the correct way it was time to play their last note, they did that together moreover.
The Auckland affection birds, who were married for 69 years, died recently, just 8 days apart, aged 93 then 90.
The one met as students at the Wellington teachers’ training college in the late 40s and went on to marry on May 5, 1951.
Hugh’s younger sister Pat said the actual brother was something of a star at high school as a singer and simply trumpet player in the dance group.
So popular was the dog, that when he was in teachers’ university or college and recovering from a burst appendix at home in Lower Hutt, girls came riding on a bicycle provided by Wellington, “all cherry” to check across on him.
“And that’s the first time I met Rae, ” Pat said.
Hugh is credited with taking concert band culture to New-fangled Zealand, having founded the Auckland Youth Symphonic Band in 1967.
The group inspired whole suit featuring wind and brass programs to form up and down the country and awarded many renowned Kiwi musicians — including popular singer Don McGlashan — their first taste of performing.
Wife Rae came to be there every step of the way, not only work tirelessly behind the scenes but infusing our own five Dixon kids’ childhood combined with love and a passion for melody.
“Mum and father lived their ideals: non-violence, unconditional love, rejoicing in the beauty of tones and nature, devotion to your family, and sharing a deep spiritualty, ” daughter Kathleen Dixon celebrity fad.
They were throughout inseparable to the end, having moved into a care facility together straight after Hugh was diagnosed with dementia.
When Rae had to segregate last year for two weeks as a Covid-19 precaution, Hugh spent his your time wheeling to her doorway to talk with each other and listen to their favourite fine tunes.
Even in his in the past few months, he rallied for wheelchair prospects, grabbing a flower from the girl room to “gallantly” present to Rae.
He died using December 29 and at his memorial soon afterwards, Rae collapsed.
Tests showed it was every undiagnosed complication from diabetes. To identify a in that moment she sought a level of comfort from music.
In the emergency department, while waiting for an effective X-ray, Rae launched into vocals.
Bystanders watched by, “blown away”, as Rae, Kathleen and Kathleen’s sister Norine being sung popular 1940s and 1950s focus on, Around the Corner (Beneath the Berry Tree).
“You couldn’t pay off any time with her without her breaking into some little ditty or famous song, ” Kathleen said.
“When The Sound of Musical came to the movies, mum took finally the five of us children with her 5 times to see it, she loved is going to be so much. ”
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Rae died on The following year 7, nine days after them beloved husband.
All of the couple leave behind children and children-in-law Wendy, Kathleen, Norine and Haydn, Michael and Chryssy, and Antony and Stefanie as well as a host behind grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
All of the Dixon children played within the AYSB; Wendy and Michael in particular pursued careers as professional music artists.
When Hugh make the AYSB, there were no happens to be combining brass and wind recources in the country other than the official New Zealand Navy Band.
Regrettably by 1973, just six months or even years after founding the group, it had much more than 90 players.
“Since then, many schools have mounted their own groups for wind and moreover brass players, and there are very few high schools without such a group, ” some of the AYSB’s website said.
So-called concert bands tend to differ from orchestras by having more drums, trumpets, clarinets and other wind instruments.
Professional conductor and clarinet soloist David Adlam was an example of a host of star musicians to finish the AYSB.
Some others included Wayne Laird, now the recording engineer, John Boscawen, what became an Act Party MP, and Mary Martin, who trialled at the prestigious Lincoln Centre inside.
Adlam described Hugh as “a legend” for the music legacy he left behind.
The couple’s children simply take into account a family united by love furthermore music.
“Music is more than our glue, it was like we breathed, ” daughter Wendy said.
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