2007 New Zealand Brass Band Championships - Preview: A Grade

30-Jun-2007

Friday 6 July 4.30pm - Test and Sacred Item
Saturday 7 July 5.00pm - Own Choice
Bruce Mason Centre
Adjudicator: Nigel Boddice
Test: Concerto #1 for Brass Band, Derek Bourgeois

This section is undoubtably one of the finest line-ups of brass bands from Downunder to be present all in one contest for a long time, including the top 4 ranked bands from Australia and New Zealand.

The Kiwis definitely won't want to see the Championship being taken by the Aussies, and the Aussies aren't coming over here just for the scenery. Competition will be fierce.

The test piece has been a nightmare to prepare for most bands who have struggled with its technical and rhythmical demands. The feelings about the piece amongst players is widely divided - they either love it or hate it.

To say the test piece is unique is almost an understatement. When Concerto #1 for Brass Band was originally chosen as a test in the National Championships in 1999, some 25 years after it had actually been composed, many were stunned. BBW Magazine describes one listeners vocal imitation of the music that sounded like "snap, crackle and pop".

A BBW Magazine from 1999 also reports that Derek Bourgeois himself admitted that he knew little to nothing about brass bands when he first wrote the music in 1973. This is pretty obvious at times in his writing - just look at the 2nd baritone part. He even acknowledged back then that he was surprised it had been chosen as a test piece.

All that being said there are many musical analysts who sing Bourgeois' praises and believe this composition to be extremely witty and cleverly written.

A great feature of this years championships is the influx of guest UK players, who again an exciting addition to the ranks of several bands.

Ascot Park Hotel Brass
Musical Director: John McKinlay

The Ascot Park Hotel Brass Band of Invercargill, under the baton of John McKinlay are once again in full flight with the upcoming New Zealand National Contest.

In the last 3 weeks prior to contesting, band members have attended full weekend rehearsals as well as 2 nights per week, totalling in excess of 14 hours of commitment.

Commitment at rehearsals have been great as the band prepares to perform what may be one of the most difficult test pieces yet, in which several band members have various opinions on.

It is with the help of a passionate MD and an enthusiastic group of musicians that they will walk onto the contest stage, proud to representing our home town of Invercargill.

The band would also like to take this opportunity to put in a plug for the Invercargill Garrison Band Society celebrating 140 years over the weekend of 2nd � 4th November. This is an opportunity for people to reminisce over the last 140 years and talk about stories from the early days of banding compared to now.
and.

4BRDU Ranking: 23

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Stephen Gooding, Cornet

Brisbane Excelsior, Australia
Musical Director: Howard Taylor

XLCR are attending this contest having won the Australian National Championships three years in a row.

The last time the band attended a New Zealand contest was under Musical Director, Barrie Gott, in 1999.

MD, Howard Taylor, is no stranger to contesting in NZ as he led Trusts Waitakere in the late 90's and early 2000's in what was one of the bands most successful contesting periods, before moving to Australia in 2002.

XLCR have not had an easy run preparing for this contest. 2nd Euphonium player, Ben Croker, is not a popular lad having broken his right arm only 3 days ago.

Can they continue the winning form?

Key Players
Soprano: Stephen Stewart
Cornet: Paula Russell
Flugel: Amanda Casagrande
Horn: Steve Ridler
Baritone: Brad Hosking
Euphonium: Ashley Gittins
Trom: Stuart Bent
Eb Bass: Julie Woods
Bb Bass: Rick Casagrande
Percussion: Adrian Dadds

4BRDU Ranking: 1

Past Nationals Record:
2007 1st (Oz)
2006 1st (Oz)
2005 1st (Oz)
2004 3rd (Oz)

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Ross Moloney on 2nd baritone.

Dalewool Auckland Brass
Musical Director: Nigel Weeks

Dalewool Auckland Brass is pleased to have regained the services of Nigel Weeks as Principal Conductor for 2007.

Due to a busy concert schedule Dalewool have an extremely short contest build up, however despite this and the absence of prominent Navy Band players for the contest the band is making excellent progress and has had extremely productive rehearsals.

Although an unusual choice of set test the band is enjoying the challenge of Concerto Number 1 and is looking forward to hearing the different interpretations from other bands.

Listen out for the band's playing of the second movement of the test - Nigel is sure to provide the listener with plenty of magical, musical moments.

Principal Cornet: Andrew Large
Soprano Cornet: Kay MacKenzie
Flugel Horn: Mason Elliot
Principal Horn: Andy Williams
Principal Euphonium: Ken Cant
Principal Baritone: Ross Gerritsen
Principal Trombone: Dave Wright
Principal BBb Bass: Tom Needham
Principal EEb Bass: Steve Packer
Principal Percussion: Steve Bremner

4BRDU Ranking: 2

Past Nationals Record:
2006 2nd
2005 3rd
2004 1st

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Mason Elliot, Flugel

DAREBIN CITY BRASS � PRESTON BAND, Australia
Musical Director: Jason Mears

Principal Players
Principal Cornet: Robin Ford
Principal Euphonium: Michael Mears
Soprano: George Melitsis
Solo Horn: Marian Barker
Flugel: Andrew Power
Solo Trombone: Chris Lee
EEb Tuba: Leonardo Fernandez

The Band has been busy since the Nationals doing the local Anzac services, a Concert at the Doncaster Bowling Club and performing live on 774 ABC Radio.

The Band has recently been fortunate to have the services of Melbourne freelance Trumpet Player Sean Priest, who gave a workshop on performance skills and worked with some of the Band's younger players.

There have been significant changes in personnel since the Australian Nationals, especially the cornet and horn sections. The band and conductor have grown to appreciate the Test Piece, and look forward to playing it in New Zealand.

This is the 2nd time the band has ventured to New Zealand, the last being in 1986.

4BRDU Ranking: 20

Past Nationals Record:
2007 13th (Oz)
2006 8th (Oz)
2005 4th

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Chris Lee, Trombone

Kew Band Melbourne, Australia
Musical Director: Mark Ford

Kew is a band in fine form.

The personnel line-up is very impressive and Mark Ford has the talents and expertise to extract the best from his players.

The bands performances will be ones not to miss.

4BRDU Ranking: 3

Key players:
Soprano: Danny Dielkens
Cornet: Jennifer Magoulas
Flugel: Michael Mathers
Horn: Charlie Young
Euphonium: Matt van Emmerik (with no 'c')
Trombone: Brett Baker
Bass: Steve Ford

Past Nationals Record:
2007 2nd (Oz)
2006 4th (NZ)
2006 10th (Oz)
2005 6th (Oz)

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Steve Ford

North Shore Brass
Musical Director: Brent Large

Following on from its strong showing at the 2006 Dunedin contest North Shore Brass is working hard to cement itself as one of New Zealand's leading brass bands.

Boasting a strong infrastructure the band is now prospering musically under the direction of Mr Brent Large experiencing one its most success periods since the band was first formed in 1921 and subsequent last period in A Grade during the 1970s.
This success however doesn't come easy so the band is practicing very hard to get to grips with a difficult test work and challenging own choice.

One of few A Grade bands without a major sponsor the band is grateful for the support it receives from one of this years major contest sponsors, the North Shore City Council.

With its bandroom located only 5 minutes from the Bruce Mason Centre North Shore Brass is looking forward to representing the people of the North Shore with pride and further success at its first ever truly "local" National Contest.

Principal Players
Principal Cornet : Vaughan McDonald
Soprano Cornet : Martin Britt ( Desford )
Flugel Horn : Kate Wright
Solo Horn : Carol Goss
Baritone : Rebecca Lewis
Euphonium : Robert Simpson
Trombone : Mark Close
Eb Bass : Denis Spurdle
Bb Bass : John Mann
Percussion : Antonnia Marriott

4BRDU Ranking: 27

Past Nationals Record:
2006 4th
2005 -
2004 8th

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Vaughan McDonald, Cornet

Marlborough Districts Brass
Musical Director: Kevin Moseley

Principal Players:
Principal Cornet: Graham Moseley
Principal Euphonium: Riki McDonnell
Soprano: Shane Foster
Solo Horn: Mike Ford
Flugel: Erynne Scherf
Solo Trombone: Jeff Mulraney
Eb Bass: Nick Sharpe
Baritone: Denis Teeling

The bands preparations for the contest involve two intensive weekend rehearsals as well as normal rehearsals. With these extra weekend long sessions added there is now a growing sense of confidence and belief around the stands. With a sprinkling of National bandsmen and a crop of very talented youngsters bolstering the lower parts the band is aiming to give a good account of itself in July.

Past Nationals Record:
2006 3rd
2005 6th
2004 4th

4BRDU Ranking: 17

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Mike Ford, Horn

St Kilda Brass
Musical Director: Steve Miles

Principal Cornet: John Lewis
Soprano Cornet: Gary Valentine
Flugel Horn: Marty Kibble
Solo Horn: Paul Bennett
1st Baritone: John McAdam
Solo Euphonium: Barry Gordon
Solo Trombone: Tim Walsh
Eb Bass: Amy Walsh
Bb Bass: Dean Morley

Due to family commitments St Kilda's usual Solo Horn Murray Borthwick is unavailable for the contest this year but is ably replaced by ex Desford and Fodens star Paul Bennett. Also due to the departure of Chris Miller from the Bb Bass team the band is delighted to welcome Grimethorpe ace Dean Morley to the ranks. Dean will be working very closely with the band in the build up to the contest as well as giving a Master Class in Dunedin at 10.00am on Saturday 30th July.

Having recently completed an incredibly challenging concert programme as part of the bands subscription series entitled Master Brass the Saints have spent a little over 3 weeks in preparation for the contest. However the band certainly is flying high at the moment and one of the key developments in the bands progress in the past couple of years is the ability to learn new repertoire very quickly. Bourgeois's Concerto No.1 is a real technical and musical challenge for all bands and although highlighting some of the Saints previous and current weaknesses it also calls significantly on some of the bands strengths such as the incredibly talented front row cornet team, masterfully lead by John Lewis.

As with all contemporary band repertoire the initial response from the band was �rubbish' however, in typical fashion there are very few members of the band remaining that are not thoroughly enjoying the challenge that this piece presents. Those who still maintain their hatred for the music curiously spend most of their time whistling, humming and singing its angular melodic lines!

4BRDU Ranking: 6

Past Nationals Record:
2006 7th
2005 3rd
2004 5th

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
John Lewis, Cornet

The Trusts Waitakere
Musical Director: Steven Booth

Waitakere has been working hard under the leadership of MD Steven Booth. The band travelled to Australia in April for the Australian Nationals and came a credible 5th.

Booth will be keen to improve upon this result and are a band to watch with great interest.

Principal Cornet: Leon Renilson
Soprano Cornet: Fendall Hill
Flugel horn: Lisa Rogers
Principal Horn: Sergio Marshall
Principal Euphonium: Bari Thomas
Principal Baritone: Wayne Kedzlie
Principal Trombone: Stuart Ritchie
Principal Tuba: Stuart Bennion

4BRDU Ranking: 11

Past Nationals Record:
2006 -
2005 5th
2004 3rd

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Lisa Rogers, Flugel

Woolston Brass
Musical Director: Graham Hickman

There is much interest in Woolston's performance this year.

New MD Graham Hickman has been working the band very hard. On the books, the band personnel is arguably the best at the contest. Graham will certainly be striving for the hat-trick.

Principal Cornet: Kevin Hickman
Soprano Cornet: Colin Clark
Flugel Horn: Dave Johnstone
Solo Horn: Bill Vail
1st Baritone: Mark Van der Klei
Solo Euphonium: Jessica Blair
Solo Trombone: David Bremner
Eb Bass: Nigel Seaton
Bb Bass: Phil Johnson
Percussion: Rohanna Cooper

4BRDU Ranking: 4

Past Nationals Record:
2006 1st
2005 1st
2004 2nd

4BRDU Player to watch out for:
Colin Clark, Soprano

4BRDU Prediction
This will be a very, very, very close contest. There won't be too much that will separate the top four bands.

1. Woolston
2. Dalewool
3. Kew
4. XLCR
5. St Kilda

Dark Horse: Waitakere