HICKMAN, Major Graham Ross
For services to the New Zealand Defence Force and brass bands
Major Graham Hickman has led the New Zealand Army Band to be recognised by the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as one of the top three tattoo acts in the world, and by the Basel International Tattoo as the best military marching band qin the world.
Major Hickman joined the New Zealand Army Band after graduating from high school and over the next 31 years held the positions of Instructor, Bandmaster, Officer Commanding the School of Music, and Director of Music. He has led the band on major international engagements to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the World Band Festival in Lucerne, the King of Tonga’s Coronation, the German War Graves Commission Tattoo, and the Queen’s 90th Birthday. He conducted a national tour in collaboration with the Royal New Zealand Ballet performing ‘Salute’, for the World War One Centenary Commemoration Project. He has contributed as a tutor, administrator and musical director within his local community on a voluntary basis. He has been Musical Director of the National Secondary Schools Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band, as well as several local brass bands, most recently Woolston Brass which he led to national and Australasian championship titles. Major Hickman was the Champion Conductor of New Zealand from 2009 to 2012.