Gary Daverne Biography
On October 27 2010, Gary Daverne was recipient of the prestigious ‘Benny’ Award, the highest honour that can be awarded to any entertainer in New Zealand.
The’Benny’ Award from the Variety Artists Club (VAC) is for services to entertainment in the fields of Music, Musical Theatre, Acting and Film.
This major award is named after a famous NZ magician Edgar Benyon who received the first award in 1969.
A Benny is awarded each year to an entertainer or someone in the industry who has excelled or contributed to the industry above the "norm".
The previous month (September), Gary was also presented the Companion of North Shore City Award, ‘for exceptional service to the North Shore Community’ by the Mayor of North Shore City Andrew Williams.
Gary was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (O.N.Z.M.) in the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of his services to music.
In November 2000, Gary was presented the prestigious Scroll of Honour by the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand: "for his dedication and skill in his craft and for bringing the joy of orchestral music to the people. We acknowledge his achievements and salute his professionalism."
In 2005 the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, named Gary a Paul Harris Fellow.
He was appointed Music Director for the 1975 New Zealand Waitangi Day Celebrations attended by Her Majesty, the Queen of England and other members of the British Royal Family. He is probably the only civilian in recent British history to musically direct a Royal occasion conducting the Royal New Zealand Navy Band, without a commission.
At the 2009 Coupe Mondiale, held in the Bruce Mason Centre, North Shore City, Auckland, New Zealand, Gary conducted the world premiere of his composition Auckland March performed by the World Accordion Orchestra III, 147 accordions representing 14 nationalities.
Gary was also presented at the 2009 Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships, the Confederation Internationale des Accordeonistes (CIA) Honored Friend of the Accordion Award "Recognizing the significant contributions of Gary Daverne to the development of accordion music and performance, both in New Zealand and internationally."
In recent years, Gary Daverne has released 6 accordion albums in co-operation with the many musicians he knows and has composed many compositions. See recent news article about Gary Daverne.