125th National Champs End in High Note

125th National Champs End in High Note

Wellington Sunday 27th March 2005

Musicians from all around the world have been competing in Wellington over Easter weekend for the National Brass Band Championships which culminated in the visiting Swedish band Gothenburg City Brass Band under conductor Bengt Ekland winning the New Zealand Championship. Chief adjudicator Alan Morrison, from Britain, spoke of the extremely high standard of the music he has heard since being in New Zealand. “Kiwis can be proud of their strong brass band heritage over 125 years and also the standard of their bands – they are world class” said Morrison.

Results from the A grade Championship

1st Gothenburg City Brass Band – conductor Bengt Ekland

2nd NZ Community Trust Woolston Brass – conductor David Gallaher

3rd Dalewool Auckland Brass - conductor Nigel Weeks

In the B grade it was a Wellington clean sweep with all placing’s going to Wellington region brass bands:

1st Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass – conductor David Chaulk

2nd Trust Porirua City Brass – Kerry Garrett

3rd Titan Hutt City Brass – Gilbert Evans

The C grade was hotly contested by nine bands with the winners being Tasman Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass of Whakatane.

1st Tasman Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass

2nd Westport Municipal

3rd Te Awamutu Brass

Levin and Districts Brass took the D grade section over the only other competition Te Awamutu Brass Auxiliary.

The inaugural Youth Grade Section had three young bands competing for the Boosey and Company Trophy last presented in 1900 and recently unearthed.

1st Pelorus Trust Wellington Youth Brass

2nd Woolston Junior Band

3rd Masterton District Youth Band

In the solo section the Champion of Champion for New Zealand is Auckland player Mason Elliott on Flugel horn, the Junior Champion of Champion was awarded to Eb Bass player VinnieJervis of Hamilton. Another premier event was the Invitation Slow Melody taken out by Trevor Bremner of Brisbane.

Champion marching band are Canterbury Foundation Brass of Christchurch and Champion Drum Major is Todd turner of the same band.

ENDS

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