2007 Australian National Band Championships - Report: Open Champion of Champions

Kew Band Melbourne claimed both the Junior and Open Champion of Champions titles at tonights events. Don Callaghan was on the spot reporting for 4BRDU.

I love solo competitions!

For a number of reasons really.  As well as the obvious test of our musical skills (and wasn't there a mixed bag of musical tests this year) there is the social side.  I was lucky enough this year just to wander around listening to performances, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

The culmination of the day is of course the Champion of Champions contest – the best of the best.  This evening that decision rests in the hands of chief music adjudicator, Ken MacDonald.

The audience of about 100 was in a friendly mood braving a cold Easter evening at "The Centre" at Ivanhoe, ready to be treated to performances celebrating Australasia's finest. I guess there were a number of band rehearsals in session tonight, keeping the event from being better attended!

EEb Bass – Steven Packer - 3rd Movt. Concerto for Tuba – (Golland)
Steve set a cracking pace with some minor slips but nicely captured the giocoso style in the early moments of the composition with a good use of dynamics throughout.  Very lyrical and musical playing demonstrated. Nice to listen to! Perhaps some of the technical demands of the piece ( e.g.: triple tonguing) were muddied in this performance tonight.

Euphonium -  Mathew van Emmerick - Concerto for Euphonium (Wilby)
Right from the opening notes this performance had the stamp of a player with superior playing capabilities.  The musical demands made of the player in "The Wilby" are considerable - I just sat back and was gob-smacked by the performance. Truly enjoyable!  My pick out of some very fine performances!

Flugel Horn – Mark Smith - 4 Miniatures (Turin)
The soloist was comfortable with the extreme range of the piece and was well on top of its technical demands.  I had heard a number of performances of 4 miniatures earlier in the day and appreciate why Mark was winner of the section.  The second movement in particular I enjoyed the lyrical style presented. A couple of minor blemishes did not detract from the overall performances. A solid finish!

Trombone – Andrew Sambell – Concertino (Ferdinand David)
A good strong opening here, by a young player who shows much promise for the future. Unfortunately some lapses tonight marred this otherwise fine performance.

Trumpet  - Mark Smith - Cavatine  Beatrice (JB Arban)
Mark has a good characteristic trumpet sound but it is married to a wonderful lyrical style called for by the theme.  A real nice listen.  Mark showed his mastery of his instrument with some nicely presented technical work in the following sections. 

Tenor Horn – Bruce Myers – Fantasie Concertante (Wilby)
Bruce is in fine form having just returned to Australia after playing with Welsh band – BTM.  Bruce presented a number of movements of this larger work. His obvious technical ability was fully evident tonight.  I really enjoyed the lyrical and musical way Bruce presented the slow movement - the low pedal notes at the end of this movement with big dynamic markings are really cruel though. The third movement danced along nicely - technique did not get in the way at all and Bruce handles the huge range demands with apparent ease.

BBb Bass –Ross Sadler - Impromtu in G ( Louis Gray)
I was lucky enough to sit through the BBb Bass section but could not come to terms with the distince lack of challenge presented by the chosen test piece.  The winner wisely chose to play any work and did so by, ironically, choosing the test piece set for the Junior Bb Bass. I always marvel at the technique summoned from players on these monsters of instruments.  Ross made the instrument speak and dance with jaw-dropping ease across a huge pitch range and I really enjoyed his performance tonight.

Bass Trombone –  Matthew McGeachin - New Orleans ( Bozza)
New Orleans is a more contemporary composition I am not familiar with but never the less really enjoyed Matthews' very capable presentation of it tonight.  Nice ending!

F Tuba  - Mathew Pankhurst - 4 Humours on an Old Theme (Uwe Hilrecht)
Mathew chose an unaccompanied composition with huge range and technical demands were easily accomplished. I particularly enjoyed the lyrical style of Mats playing in the first movement and some of the effects he was able to create in the later sections.

Bb Cornet – Kevin Joughin -  Manhattan (Sparke)
The lyrical style and musicality presented here tonight by Kevin was really nice.  I  just relaxed through this performance and closed my eyes and just enjoyed the listen. Thanks!

Baritone – Jesse Crabbe - Scherzo for Baritone (Iain Rayner)
Jesse really was able to capture and present the playful mood of this work – a real audience pleaser (for me too) judging from the applause. 

Eb Soprano Cornet - Fendall Hill – Definintions (Fendall Hill)
It's always good to be treated to a performance by the composer. It just adds an air of authenticity to the performance. Nice strong opening movement with just a small blemish towards the end. The second movement is more lyrical in style and Fendall really pours himself into his playing. Nice!  The jazz style in the third section was well conveyed as well the the triplet section towards the end.  An real strong finish and I must say I really enjoy Fendalls playing.

French Horn – Adagio and Allegro – (Schumann)
A nice performance of this work – with huge sweeping range demands - a couple of  splits that didn't spoil the presentation at all.

C Tuba – Jim Thomas - Concerto for Bass Tuba ( Ralph Vaughan- Williams)
This is a playful work which Jim was able to convey with ease – again with huge range demands of the instrument and player.  A convincing and credible performance!

As a general observation I noted the adjudicator was screened and the constestants were only referred to by instrument. Perhaps this is a NBCA rule and cannot be changed but I wonder perhaps if it could be. This afterall is a celebration of our best.  No need for secrecy perhaps.

4BRDU Pick:  Matthew van Emmerick

Official results:

Open Champion of Champions – Mathew van Emmerick (Kew Band- Melbourne)
Junior Champion of Champions – Jennifer  Magoulas (Kew Band – Melbourne)