Neill Pickard


Some people walk through this world unnoticed, while those who choose music and communication arts are always in the spotlight. Such is the case with Neill Pickard – musician, academician, humanitarian, gentleman. Whether teaching, playing music or working behind the scenes, words and music are ongoing motifs in his personal and professional life.

Neill has influenced countless secondary school students during a career-long occupation teaching French, music, and English as a Second Language. He has lectured in music history to tertiary students, composed and directed a full-scale rock-jazz musical based on the life of Shakespeare, and continues to work as a singer and musician in a Dixieland jazz band as well as other genre line-ups.

Neill Pickard on contrabass with Barry Brinson at the piano.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Lloyd & the Undergrads, Caroline Bay, 1963. (From left) drummer Dave Innes, Neill Pickard, Lloyd Scott (in long trousers), John Brock, and Miles Reay.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard's first guitar, a 1958 Ermelinda Silvestri, built in Catania, Sicily.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Therese and Neill Pickard at Neill's QSM honours ceremony.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard, Larry Marschall and Tony Hale live, Christchurch Folk Club.
Jazz school tutors, 1993. Back row (left to right): Tom Rainey, Ted Meager, Neill Pickard, Doug Caldwell, Bob Heinz; front row: Ian Edwards and the late US jazz trumpeter Nat Adderley, who did the narration for Porgy & Bess with CPIT Jazz School choir & leads.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
The Undergrads with singer Susie DeMaria, Ilam Homestead.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill and son Richie Pickard on double bass, April 2008.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Ian Edwards (left), Neill Pickard and Brent Stanton, a former pupil of Stu Buchanan and Ian Edwards, and a regular in Ian’s band. A Sydney Conservatorium graduate, Neill describes Brent as “a monster reed and flute player who went to New York; an Emmy arranger, among other feats”.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard in gig mode, 1963.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
River City Jazzmen live, 2018
River City Stompers in the studio, Christchurch 1963. Dave Innes (drums), Les Brown (trumpet), Tony Lewis (trombone), Paul Dyne (clarinet), Neill-Pickard (banjo).
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard in Red Hot & Dixie.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard with Emile Grimshaw, banjo, 1964.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
The River City Jazzmen - Putting on the Ritz
Neill Pickard with Manhattan Transfer, Christchurch Town Hall 2005.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard's 60th, with his sons Antony and Michael.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neil Pickard, John Wilson, and Michael Lawrence, mid-1970s.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
"Dippermouth Blues" River City Jazzmen Live @ Orange
Neill Pickard, singing cowboy. 
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Undergrads publicity photo, taken on the roof of a demolished building in Hereford St Christchurch. Left to right: Neill Pickard, John Brock Miles Reay Dave Innes.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Hank B Marvin of The Shadows signs Neill’s Stratocaster.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard with banjo, 1963.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
The Everglades - Abilene (Robbins Recordings, RRSP47, 1964) - Hugh Canard, bass; Neill Pickard, piano.
Neill Pickard receiving QSM honour from NZ Governor-General Anand Satyanand, 2008.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Poster for Sweet William, a rock-jazz musical based on the life of Shakespeare, composed and directed by Neill Pickard.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Redwing - Larry Marschall, Tony Hale and Neill Pickard
Jazz school staff, 1992. Back row, left to right: Neill Pickard, Murray Warner, Bob Heinz, Tom Rainey, Ted Meager, Gerald Marsden (trumpet); middle: Ian Edwards, Doug Caldwell; front: Genevieve Kelly (voice and choir) and Sharon Moynihan.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard in class at CPIT, 1980s.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
“Nothing’s Too Hard for Neill Pickard” by Gerard Masters (2017)
My Grandfather's Clock - Larry Marschall, Tony Hale and Neill Pickard
Lloyd & the Undergrads, 1963. Miles Reay (left), Lloyd Scott, Neill Pickard, and Dave Innes (obscured).
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Turkey in the Straw - Neill Pickard, Larry Marschall and Tony Hale live, Christchurch Folk Club.
"Sweet Georgia Brown" River City Jazzmen Live @ Orange
Neill Pickard receiving Civic Honour Award with Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker, 2008.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Neill Pickard and his son Antony.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
River City Jazzmen at Nut Point Gallery, November 2018. Left to right: Jerome Raateleand, Neill Pickard, Dave Pitt, Michael Fairhurst, Tony Lewis, Allan Hawes.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Larry Marschall, Tony Hale and Neill Pickard - Caravan
Neill Pickard jamming with Acker Bilk.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Folk trio, late 1970s. Hugh Canard, Steve Dakin, Neill Pickard.
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection
Poster for Sweet William, a full-scale rock-jazz musical based on the life of Shakespeare, composed and directed by Neill Pickard. 
Photo credit: Neill Pickard Collection

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