2006 Victorian State Band Championships

Junior Grades Preview and Predictions

When: Sunday 15 October 8.30am
Where: Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts
Adjudicator: Bruce Armstrong
Junior B Grade Test: St Andrew's Variations by Alan Fernie
Junior C Grade Test: Castle of Scotland by James Pendleton

The bands to open Sunday's events are the Juniors.  For some of the bands given the travelling times, the day will well and truely start way before sunrise - hardly conducive to giving your best performance possible.  None-the-less, when 4BRDU spoke with the bands with early starts, although they were a little peeved with the timing, the attitude was refreshingly positive.

Bendigo Youth Brass
Junior C Grade
Conductor: Matthew Cutler

Soprano: Louisa Trewartha
Solo Cornet: Nick Irvine/Ben Coughlan
Flugel: Emma Bannerman
Solo Horn: Jaan Butler
Principal Eupho/Bari: Katherine Dobson
Principal Trom: Pat McMillan
Bass Trom: Tom Whiting
Principal Bass: Brendan McKerlie
Principal Percussionist: Jarryd Redwood

The band reported to 4BRDU:
The school Holidays weren't ideally located but the band has been sounding very good and looking forward to their first State Championships as Bendigo Youth Brass.

Although its not a technically demanding piece, the band has found the challenge is controlling themselves during the changes in dynamics and speeds and working together as a band to provide a musical performance.

Players in this band are the junior members of Marist Brothers Brass Band and the City of Bendigo Brass Band.

Boroondara Youth Brass
Junior B Grade
Conductor: Daniel van Bergen

Soprano: Alex James
Principal Cornet: Jennifer Magoulas
Flugel: Giselle Stanfield
Solo Horn: Andrew Murray
Principal Eupho: Lachlan Wright
Solo Bari: Stuart McKee
Principal Trom: Christian Houghton-Smith
Bass Trom: Frances White
Principal Eb Bass:
Principal Bb Bass: Brendan McKee
Principal Percussionist: Gabrielle McNeice

The band reported to 4BRDU:
Preparation is going well for the band after returning from the La Trobe Valley Eisteddfod where they successfully  contested in both the Junior B and Open D grade.
 
The test piece, written for 8 parts, provides the band with the opportunity of working on style, intonation and ensemble playing rather than just learning to play the notes. Although not a particular favourite, the band is rehearsing well and looking forward to the performance.
 
The band is going well but some members have a clash with school concerts on the day and are unable to attend. 2 of the bands 3 Tuba players are unable to attend causing a few balance problems for the band which has been a challenge for the band to sort out.
 
Hyde Street Youth Band
Junior B Grade
Conductor: David Redding

Soprano: Fiona Hay
Principal Cornet: Rhys Milne
Flugel: Ruth Torr
Solo Horn: Marlowe Wynne-Woodley
Principal Eupho: Emma Wright
Solo Bari: Anthony Patterson
Principal Trom: Ben Milne
Bass Trom: Vincent Walker
Principal Eb Bass: Lewis Baldi
Principal Bb Bass: N/A
Principal Percussionist: Ashley Baldi
 
The band reported to 4BRDU:
The preparation has gone very well, with the band improving in leaps and bounds. It has seen the members in the Training Band step up into the main band to compete, all of which have made a significant contribution to the band's sound. A lot of this has do to with our conductor, David Redding, who's expertise, patience and persistence is paying off, with the band sounding the best it has sounded in many years.
 
Whilst the test piece is not technically demanding, the band has enjoyed working on playing together and performing the different styles of the 7 variations. Hyde St. has also enjoyed working on the musicallity of "St. Andrews Variations" and hopes to do it justice next week end.
 
Hyde St. would also like to wish good luck to Boroondarra Youth and Whitehorse Brass this weekend. "Hopefully you all enjoy our performance as much as we have enjoyed preparing it."

Whithorse Brass
Junior B Grade
Conductor:  Alwyanne Strentz

This is thriving group of currently 35 players had its first full rehearsal in two years yesterday evening.  The preparation has been going well for this group however, the timing of the contest being so close to the school holidays did slow progress somewhat.  Other struggles with the usual school commitments of individuals have also played their part in the lead up process.

Although the band did find the test piece seemingly simple in many ways, the players and its MD have been paying particular attention to portraying the different moods and musicality required to truely perform the test piece.

4BRDU Predictions

Junior B Grade:
1. Boroondara Brass
2. Hyde Street Youth Brass
3. Whitehorse

Junior C Grade:
1.  Bendigo Youth Brass (of course!)