2007 Australian National Band Championships

Preview: Junior Grades

A small line up of bands this year - plenty of quality though.

JUNIOR A

Great Hall – The Ivanhoe Centre
Adjudicator: Mark Ford
Test Music: Three Places in Italy – Brenton Broadstock
Hymn and Test Selection Friday 6 April 11.30 am
Own Choice Selection and Stage March Friday 6 April 5.30 pm

Gunnedah Junior, NSW
Conductor: Bruce Myers

The Gunnedah juniors are attempting to win their 6th successive A Grade title, this year under the baton of Bruce Myers, conducting the band for the first time.

The juniors have lost 12 players from the band that competed at Brisbane last year, all of whom have turned 19 or left Gunnedah.

This years band is a very young group. All players, apart from 4, are 13 years old or younger. They have worked very hard and are looking forward to the competition with great enthusiasm.

All players are really excited about the long trek to Melbourne.

Soprano:  Courtney Jamieson
Principal Cornet: Caitlin Morgan
Solo Horn:  Cameron Sommerlad
1st Baritone:  Kate McCormack
Euphonium:  Rhianna Brady
1st Trombone: Kassie Bernays
Principal Tuba: Emily Hansen

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - Junior A Brass 1st
2005 - Junior A Brass 1st
2006 - Junior A Brass 1st

Willoughby, NSW
Conductor: Brian McGuinness

Willoughby Band Junior Brass is looking forward to the 2007 Nationals.  The new members in particular have added exciting sounds to the band in the last 3 months. Like all junior bands the Willoughby Band has unlimited energy and has been committing themselves to regular rehearsals. Look out for the new look black shirts in the band as they walk onto the stage.

The Own Choice selection reflects the energies of the ensemble; the band is enjoying the challenges of making the piece work on a number of levels. Likewise the March and Hymn settings are progressing well and the attention to detail is improving every week. 

The band also is participating with the seniors in preparing for the street march on the Saturday and also for special events like the Anzac Day march on their return to Sydney.

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - Junior A Brass 2nd
2005 - Junior A Brass 2nd
2006 - Junior A Brass 3rd

City of Wollongong Brass Band Juniors, NSW
Conductor: Tara Grimm

Sadly, this will be Tara's last national competition  with the band as she has based day to day work in several Sydney schools, making rehearsal time in Wollongong more difficult.

Preparation for the Nationals began late last year with the obligatory blow through of the test and the search for an appropriate own choice.

The band has, as what happens with all junior bands, undergone significant changes since Brisbane 2006 with key players reaching that golden age of 19 and needing to move on.

Key chairs of Solo Cornet, Flugel Horn, Solo Horn and Euphonium all have new players. Probably the most dramatic change is last years principal cornet, Sarah Meldrum, is now playing BBb Bass.

Are these moves positive or negative – time will of course reveal, though the kids and Tara have been working at the repertoire with vigour, showing improvement each time they meet. As well as normal weekly rehearsals, there have been a number of Saturday and Sunday workshops as well as sectionals.

The Senior Band has been assisting the juniors by feeding the troops and helping with organisation, for which the younsters are most grateful

A pre-contest concert on April 1, has been arranged at Warilla High School, featuring the St Mary's Band, and soloists Mark Howcroft and Warrick Tyrell (MD-  Sutherland Shire Brass) as well as the Wollongong Junior Band to iron out any pre-contest jitters.

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - did not compete
2005 - did not compete
2006 - Junior A Brass 2nd

JUNIOR B

Great Hall – The Ivanhoe Centre
Adjudicator: Ray Farr
Test Music: Comber Suite – Darrol Barry
Hymn and Test Selection Friday 6 April 10.30 am
Own Choice Selection and Stage March Friday 6 April 4.00 pm

Boroondara Youth Brass, Vic
Conductor: Daniel van Bergen

Soprano: Alex James
Principal Cornet: Jenny Magoulas
Flugel: Giselle Stanfield
Solo Horn: Andrew Murray
Principal Euphonium: Lachlan Wright
Solo Baritone: Stuart McKee
Principal Trombone: Candice Colman
Bass Trombone: Frances White
Principal EEb Tuba: Stephen Gillespie-Jones
Principal BBb Tuba: Nelson Woods
Principal Percussion: James Campbell

The Championships will be the debut performance for a number young Boroondara members who are looking forward to their first contest with the band.

The band finds the test piece very challenging but have risen to the occasion admirably. Again slightly under strength due to members being unavailable, (but much stronger than the last contest when a band of 19 was fielded!), the band's preparations have of course been marred by VCE, school camps and all the other activities that take place in the average school kids life!

The band however is enjoying rehearsing its chosen program and are excited to be able to perform. Boroondara Youth Brass are a little disappointed to be one of only two bands to be competing in this grade but are looking forward to once again locking horns with friendly rivals Whitehorse Brass.

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - did not compete
2005 - Junior B Brass 1st; Junior C Brass 1st 
2006 - did not compete

Whitehorse Brass, Vic
Conductor: Alwaynne Strentz

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - did not compete
2005 - Junior B Brass 2nd
2006 - did not compete

JUNIOR C

Great Hall – The Ivanhoe Centre
Adjudicator: Ray Farr
Test Music: Fata Morgana, Kees Schoonenbeek
Hymn and Test Selection Friday 6 April 9.00 am
Own Choice Selection and Stage March Friday 6 April 2.00 pm

Bendigo Youth Brass,Vic
Conductor:  not known

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - did not compete
2005 - did not compete
2006 - did not compete

Warringah Youth Brass, NSW
Conductor:  John Saunders

After winning the Junior C Grade title last year, Warringah Youth Brass is very keen to return to make it two in a row. In 2006, the band followed up their Nationals win by taking out the NSW State Championship.

Music Director John Saunders enjoys fantastic support from the band and has been working hard with this enthusiastic bunch of talented kids from the northern beaches of Sydney.

Last year saw the retirement of some key players due to age, but the band seems to bounce back each time to come up with a very competitive combination.

Warringah are fortunate to have some solid players on the corner seats, which include:

Soprano: James Power
Solo cornet: Angus Lloyd
Flugel: Laura Christian
Solo horn: Adam Powers
Euphonium: Matthew Hurditch
1st Trom: Daniel Hurditch
Bass trom: Oliver Ferguson
EEb bass: Michael Power
BBb bass: Kajsa Doyle
Percussion: Tracy Lloyd & Nell Caithness

Past 3 Year National Track Record:

2004 - did not compete
2005 - Junior C Brass 2nd
2006 - Junior C Brass 1st

Whitehorse Junior Brass, Vic
Conductor: David Farrell

Past 3 Year National Track Record:
2004 - did not compete
2005 - did not compete
2006 - did not compete