New South Wales State Brass Band Championships - Preview

Twenty seven bands will be participating in the NSW Championships this weekend, to be held in the Macquarie Theatre at the Macquarie University, Ryde.

Major Eric Anderson will have a busy weekend of adjudication, with the Junior C Grade bands kicking off at 8.30am on Saturday. Open D Grade will follow at 9.30am and Open C Grade will conclude the days competition, starting at 3.30pm.

Sunday will be an exciting day, commencing with Junior A Grade at 10am, followed by B Grade at midday, and the competition will conclude with the A Grade bands.

Bands competing (not draw order):

Junior C Grade – Own Choice selection

Bankstown City Junior Brass Band is conducted by Mr Rae Forrester, who is doing a marvelous job. This is only their second competition. They won Junior C last year and they have been working very hard.  The experience of the players varies from just six months to several years.  They are an extremely committed junior band.

Warringah Youth Brass - 4BRDU has not recieved any comments from this band.

Open D Grade – "Homage to Pharoah" (Rimmer)

Armidale City Band, conducted by David Brown, has been preparing solidly for the past three months, and has been rehearsing twice a week for the past month. There are many new people to the band who will be contesting for the first time. The band has a core of about ten players who have been regular members for between 20 and 40 years. The remainder of the band comprises young people from the training group – Armidale Band has a constant change over of players due to the country location and the university. The band is well on the way and is looking forward to the weekend.

Brisbane Water Brass, conducted by Jonathan Gatt is preparing extremely well. They've had many extra practices and sectionals. The Hymn and Test are going well and their difficult own choice is coming together. The Test suits the band and they are all enjoying it very much.

Key players include: Principal Cornet: Michael Riley, Soprano: Ken Townsend and Flugelhorn: Mark Reay.
 
This band has only been formed for less than two years and are very excited about playing in their first NSW State Contest in Open D Grade. They hope to do well in the championship and get a top three finish, though they realise that this will be difficult with the strong field of competitors.

City of Holroyd, conducted by Mark Strykowski, is doing exceptionally well for a small band (19). This band is made up of mostly young players and mature aged learners (many parents who have decided to have a go!). They have been preparing for the last six to eight weeks and are playing strongly indeed.

Liverpool City have declined to comment on their preparations – hmmm…perhaps there is something exciting brewing here that needs to be kept secret!

St Marys Band Club Brass – Ken Bradley has been a little busy lately and has not forwarded through comments as yet.

Tamworth Brass is conducted by Rebecca Sullivan, a music teacher at Tamworth High School. It has been a rough start to the year, but the band is now looking forward to the competition.  This is only their second year of competing. Tamworth was formed in 1999 and there will be 28 players taking to the stage on the weekend.

Key players include: Soprano - Noelene McCraine; Principal Cornet - Andrew Whittet; Flugel - Brenda Pryor (permit from Gunnedah); Solo Horn - Jasmine Steel/Gavin Henderson; Euphonium - Don Munro; Solo Trombone - Ian Dwyer; Solo Baritone - Katie McCormack (permit from Gunnedah).
 
This is quite a family band: Ian Dwyer is the assistant MD as well as First Trombone; his son Matt is Second Trombone; daughter Emma is Second Cornet. Rebecca Sullivan's husband Steve is solo cornet; daughter Kristy is also solo cornet; and daughter Tiffany is EEb bass.
 
Waratah Brass No. 2 is conducted by Conrad Curry. It will be only their second outing at a competition; their first was at the Newcastle competition in June.

Waratah No 2 is mostly made up of youngsters, with a sprinkling of older players. THe band is  very short on cornet players but have quite a strong bottom end. They range in age from mid 50's down to the youngest, aged seven. About eight of the band have been playing for less than a year - so it is a big challenge. Band members have appreciated having some members of the  A Grade band sit in with their rehearsals. This has really helped the younger ones especially.

Waratah No 2 are looking forward to the experience of the State Competition and hearing the other bands perform.

Yagoona District, under the guidance of Musical Director, Mr Norman Short, began rehearsals on the Test and Own Choice back in June. Their preparation has included introducing extra rehearsals to work on style, shape and balance, the introduction of a Practice Competition to promote better musical skills. The band has already performed the Own Choice at several concerts, including a joint concert with Paramatta Band.

Yagoona pride themselves on the fact that they are a fun band and even though the State Championships are very serious, they can still spend a little time to socialise and have fun.

Open C Grade – "Ship Builders" (Peter Yorke)

Bankstown City Brass is looking forward to the competition. Most of the players quite like the Test. Preparations have been pleasing under their conductor, Andre Newman. There are a lot of young players and the band is especially proud of the two youngest players, aged 12 and 13 on bass and baritone.  Eight of the players are playing in both the junior and senior bands for the competition.

Blacktown City Band will be conducted by Bill Belcher o.a.m. So far the music is progressing quite well however as usual percussionists are the missing breed. One of the percussionists will be celebrating at a family wedding and another has returned to Europe.

The band are enjoying the set test, which although now rather old, is still very good descriptive music.

One of the band's registered players, Chris Bacon, actually lives on the island of Jersey. He regularly makes the trip from Europe to play in contests with Blacktown. After the State Championships he is flying to Adelaide to join the Ghan for the trip to Darwin. As you may guess he is a train buff!

CNL Brass has prepared well for the competition and is hoping to peak on Saturday. Their conductor, Ron Boaden has only been with them since May and this will be his second ever time conducting at the States.

The band has been unsettled since their previous conductor died suddenly on Christmas day, but is now back on track. A weekend camp six weeks ago, with Ron Grice as a coach, was extremely successful.

Key players include: Principal Cornet – Bruce Fletcher (who is breaking in a new cornet); Second Solo – Clarence Yeung (who is doing all the solo work in the Test); Soprano – Julie Loveridge; Principal Trombone - Marcus Holdsworth; and BBb Bass – Tom Rowell.

Gosford City's regular MD, Phillip Rutherford, is taking a rest this competition and playing Principal Euphonium. Tom Hill is conducting the band for the contest.

The band's Own Choice is a ‘risky' choice and could make or break the competition, but most players are enjoying the challenge.

Parramatta City, conducted by Jonathan Gatt, are going well with preparations for the competition. They have had a number of extra rehearsals and sectionals. The Hymn and Test are coming together, but the band is still working hard on the difficult Own Choice.

Key players include: Principal Cornet: Michael Riley, Principal Eupho: Jack Douglas, Principal Tenor Horn: Jeff Markham.

As defending C Grade Champions, Paramatta are hoping to put in a good performance and be placed in the top three. The band hopes to give it their best shot – the band's ultimate goal is a promotion to B Grade in a few years, so winning back to back would be nice.

Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass, lead by Fredrick Deroy Vi have been rehearsing twice a week in preparation for the Championships. The boys and girls of the band have been working very hard on the Test and Own Choice.

The Band have these magnificent key players: Cornets - Tevita Lavalu, Semisi Tau'ataina jnr and George Kupu; Horns - Tiani Kupu, Tupou Toli; Euphoniums - John Ma'u and Pita Fotofil;, Trombones - Ta'ane Kemp, Lavinia Haufano; Basses - Charles Pasi and Sandra Tau'ataina; Percussion - Shabna Ma'u.
 
Just by participating in these Championships helps Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass acknowledge and display (in their band uniform) their respect of the cultural values of the mother nation of Tonga. They also feel happy and proud to be Australians participating in these wonderful annual Cultural events of Band Championships, which not only help improve the skills and standard of performance as individuals and as a group, but it also helps tie them with the warmth and discipline of bandsmanship and teamwork.

Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass enjoy the spirit and joy of music by listening to other bands performing and also enjoy performing themselves. Banding has truly had a huge impact on members, showing great improvement in self esteem and self discipline.

Toronto Brass – 4BRDU has been unsuccessful in contacting this band.

Junior A Grade – "Four Preludes" (Eric Ball)

City of Wollongong Junior Band, conducted by Tara Grimm, are enjoying the music for the contest and have been rehearsing twice weekly for the last six weeks.

Gunnedah Shire Junior Band will be conducted by Danny Alexander for his first competition. Danny plays Principal Euphonium in the Senior Band and has won many State and National titles on his instrument.

This young band has many new players, but is determined to maintain high standards and focus on band sound.

Key players include: Principal Cornet - Stephanie Barrett (current NSW Junior C of C), Flugel Horn - Dian Stewart (current Australian Junior C of C), E Flat Tuba - Anthony Rowe (current NSW Junior E Flat champion).

The Test has been a great experience for the players and is very challenging musically and stylistically.

Gunnedah continues to strive with musical direction of Danny and tutelage of Laurie Rowe.

Sutherland Shire Brass Youth Band, conducted by Brian McGuinness, is a young band - the average age would be 13. All sections are made up of mostly fairly "inexperienced" competition players. The Principal Cornet has been with band for eight years, Euphonium for ten years, and Trombone for four years. The band has gone through a major reshuffle due to players reaching 19 and having to move on. The front row cornets are mostly new to this role (less than 12 months).

The youth are keen and practicing very hard to do as well as they can. Extra rehearsals have been well attended.

Difficulties encountered are mainly due to lack of numbers to adequately cover all parts, so some people have changed instruments for the competition.

Open B Grade – "Three Miniatures for Brass Band" (Philip Sparke)

City of Wollongong Brass are excited about competing for the first time under their newly appointed Musical Director, Mr Andy Yule. Andy came to the band  as a playing member direct from the UK and was successful in his application for the position of Musical Director after the resignation of Ms Tara Grimm.

Tara was the Musical Director of both the senior and junior bands from July 1997 until July 2004. Under Tara's direction, both the senior and junior bands progressed to the current gradings of Open 'B' and Junior 'A', after successfully winning in the lower grades which lead to the promotion of both bands. Tara is still the conductor of the Junior band.

Wollongong have been rehearsing twice weekly for the last six weeks.

Warringah Concert Brass will take their place at Championships with a strong line up this year. Signings over recent months has added strength to each section of the band to ensure WCB will put in a strong performance.

Music Director John Saunders Jr. has developed the band into a very competitive unit without losing the essence of a true community band that enjoys what it does. In recent years John has led the WCB to winning both State and National B Grade Championships. Preparations for this event have been well planned and the band is working well with the test piece. The Own Choice selection is chosen to highlight the depth of experience of the players in the band.

Principal Players are Soprano: James Owen, Solo Cornet: James McCrudden, Repiano: Vaughan Price, Flugel: Michelle Stewart, Tenor Horn Jeffrey Markham: Baritone: Kevin Dallas. Euphonium: Bob O'Brien, Trombone: Tim Robards: Bass Trombone: Damien Butler, EEb Tuba Diane Frazer, Percussion: Anthony Brahe.

Open A Grade – "Contest Music" (Wilfred Heaton)

City of Holroyd have been rehearsing solidly for the last six to eight weeks under the direction of Mark Strykowski. New key players for the band include Anthony Timmons on euphonium and Bruce Jansen on percussion.

Gunnedah Shire Band, conducted by Jason Katsikaris is looking forward to the great challenge of competing in A Grade for the first time. The band is exciting about performing against very strong competition. Unfortunately illness and study commitments have marred rehearsals somewhat.

Key players include: Soprano - Marcus Salone; Principal Cornet - Stephanie Barrett; Flugel Horn - Dian Stewart; Solo Horn - Bruce Myers; Solo Baritone - Kristy Rowe; Principal Euphonium - Danny Alexander; Solo Trombone - Robert Thompson; Princial E Flat Bass - Anthony Rowe; Principal B Flat Bass - Jude Myers; Principal Percussion - Adam Dickson.

Kew Band, conducted by Mark Ford, is looking forward to performing in the up-coming NSW State Brass Band Championships. The last time Kew Band competed at these championships was in 2002 under the baton of Leif Sundstrup. Kew first lined up in this contest in 1998 when it successfully held the Victorian, New South Wales and South Australian titles in the same year.

Kew Band conductor Mark Ford says "The Test Piece ‘Contest Music' by Wilfred Heaton has continually stretched the band in rehearsals. Heaton's unique compositional technique has certainly kept us honest. It is such a difficult but enjoyable score to work on". 

The Principal Players include: Philip O'Neil (Cornet), Matthew van Emmerik (Euphonium) and Darren Cole (Trombone). Other players to augment the band are; Jason Mears (ex Hawthorn principal cornet) on the front row and Beth Winterhalter (Kew 1997-2002) returns on flugel horn whilst their regular, Jillian Bovaird is on leave giving birth to her second baby.

Kew Band is preparing well and is looking forward very much to their performance.

St Marys Band Club Brass - Ken Bradley has been a little busy lately and has not forwarded through comments as yet.

Waratah Brass, conducted by Ron Prussing, have been preparing well for the competition, with only some tidying up required in the remaining rehearsals.

The Test is deceptively difficult to pull off as required by the composer, however the band has worked hard on this and hope this will be revealed in performance.

Waratah has an unchanged line-up in personnel with the exception of Bass Trombone. The regular player is unavailable due to work commitments and the band  will be permitting Damian Butler form Warringah Brass to cover this chair.
 
The band is looking forward to the Championship and putting together three very musical performances for the audience and adjudicator.

Good luck to all the bands – I look forward to hearing all your performances!

Veronica Bowman