Nayland’s head of music Nigel Weeks knew nothing about his recent nomination and selection for a Queen’s Service Medal until he received a letter in the mail.

The Queen's Service Medal is a medal awarded by the government of New Zealand to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community, as well as service in public office. Mr Weeks received his QSM for services to music.

He says he “got a bit tearful” when he opened the letter. “I thought ‘oh wow, my god, there are so many people who do so many good things,” he said. “But it’s not just a five minute wonder, it goes back a long time and, I suppose when I actually look at all the things I’ve done in the time I’ve been in New Zealand, I’ve achieved quite a lot really.”

The list of Mr Weeks’ services and achievements is impressive. He set up annual national courses for secondary school students for both the Brass Band Association and the National Youth Band. He’s also led brass bands to win various championships, both here and in Australia.

Mr Weeks has taken the national band of New Zealand on two tours, one to China and Korea, and one to the Netherlands to compete in the World Championships. This led to a second placing. “That was a really good result for New Zealand, that one,” he said.

Choirs are another area Nigel Weeks has been heavily involved in. Since his arrival at Nayland, he has established three new choirs: the boys’ choir, the girls’ choir and the mixed choir.

"Last week is an example of how busy it is here," he said.  "We've had three groups in the Chamber Music [Competition] on the Monday, a guitar group and two brass groups, and the two brass groups won a 'highly commended' and the school brass group won a KPB Award." 

Mr Weeks then went on to organise the annual Big Sing at the Nelson School of Music for Wednesday, where all three Nayland choirs came away with a 'Commended' award.   The girls' choir also received best performance in the New Zealand music category and the mixed choir placed runner-up in the popular music category.

As if all this is not enough, after his move to Nelson from Auckland nearly three and a half years ago, Mr Weeks became very active in the community music scene. He takes the local band, conducts the Nelson Symphony Orchestra for a few concerts a year and, more recently, has started conducting Nelson’s 160 year old Civic Choir.  He is now also working with the male choir.

“It’s something I really enjoy," Mr Weeks said.  "A change is as good as a rest they say. I enjoy the challenges of working with groups and every group you work with is different [though] they’re all amateur and they all want to strive for that excellence and get better.”

Nigel Weeks stresses the importance of encouraging young musicians to continue to be involved in community bands and groups after leaving school.  Without this youth involvement, he says, such groups will die out.

Mr Weeks will attend a ceremony at Government House in Wellington in September to be presented with his medal.