2007 New Zealand Brass Band Championships - Retrospective: Champion of Champions Final

13 of the best solo players battled it out to claim the top prize on the Thursday night with a quite remarkable Bb tuba player becoming Champion of Champions.

Winning smiles: Philip Johnston is flanked by runner up Trevor Bremner and third placed Michael Ford

The Champion of Champions Solo Competition provides the New Zealand Brass Band Championships with a real highlight at the start of its event each year.

The contest is fought out between the 13 section winners from the previous two days of intense competition and the standard is invariably very high indeed. There is a real sense of pride from the competitors in having taken part in these solo and ensemble events and that is shown by the quite remarkable numbers of players who enter each year to try and claim the coveted titles of ‘National Champion' that are on offer.

The first winner in 1927 was J. Robertson of Wanganui Garrison on cornet, whilst since 1953 when it has been held annually, some of the most famous names in antipodean banding have taken the title: People such as Errol Mason, R. McGavin, JP Clague and one Riki McDonnell.

This year there were over 250 players in total trying their luck in different categories, with 20 euphonium players (with nearly ever A Grade Band represented) alone, and bucketful's of cornet, flugel, tenor horn's, bass trombones and even percussion. It remains a remarkable turn out.

This year the disciplines ranged from soprano to Bb tuba as well as percussion, and there were also categories for veterans (rather euphemistically called Masters), juniors, duets and ensembles. Only the senior solo winners make it through to the prestigious Champion of Champions event (the juniors have their own equally hard fought contest) and each of the finalists must play the work they chose in their individual section (which are selected in advance by the organisers – usually a choice of three for each discipline).    

This year the Champions Final was made up of players from New Zealand, Australia and the UK – with bass trombone player Stephen Lomas who plays for the BTM Band in Wales. He was to battle for the title against Mason Elliot on flugel horn, Trevor Bremner and John Sullivan on cornet, Keith Jennings and David Chaulk on euphonium, Michael Ford on horn, Phil Johnston on Bb tuba, Melanie Jones on xylophone, David Mallet on baritone, Fendall Hil on soprano, James Sutherland on Eb tuba and Stuart Bent on trombone. 

An appreciative audience of around 300 people were all in their seats at the stroke of 7.30pm on the Thursday night as the first competitor Stephen Lomas took to the stage.  

Resplendent in neat blue suit he produced a slightly nervous account of ‘Rainy Day in Rio' which unfortunately at times (and given he was also tenuously representing Wales) sounded a bit like it was pouring down in Pontypridd – it was a bit splashy to say the least. Not perhaps on the top of his form it was nonetheless a pretty good opener and set a decent standard for the rest of the field to follow.

Next up was one of the fancied contenders, Mason Elliot on flugel horn of Dalewool Auckland Brass. A performer of quite extravagant talent, on the night he wasn't on the top of his form and his ‘Flight' never quite reached the musical stratosphere he would have hoped for. After giving a superb account earlier in the day to take the individual title, he understandably sounded fatigued and the performance didn't live up to his usual impeccable standards.  

Trevor Bremner meanwhile continues to amaze – even if he is now very much a veteran of the solo scene here. Accompanied by his wife he produced a high class performance of traditional cornet playing virtues on ‘Tucker' that eventually rewarded him with the runners up spot. He is some player, and even though the style of execution may seem slightly dated to those now accustomed to the pyrotechnical playing of the modern superstar players, it is a wonderful reminder of how a cornet can be used as a lyrically melodic voice.

A musical duet: Mr and Mrs Bremner make lovely music together

Keith Jennings from Port of Napier was the Master's champion and produced a well rounded performance of ‘Variations for Ophicleide' on euphonium that did what it said on the tin, whilst Melanie Jones from Trust Porirua City Brass on xylophone, who was the percussion champion, provided the audience with a short and sweet rendition of ‘Percussive Ballet Music' that also did what it was intended to do to a tee.

These two performances sandwiched a trio of high class challengers in David Chaulk, Michael Ford and Philip Johnston.

David Chaulk is a highly polished and talented trombone performer (he has won this title twice before), although he chose this year to compete on euphonium – winning the individual title in style. Philip Sparke's ‘Fantasy for Euphonium' didn't really highlight the best of those talents though and although it was slickly delivered it was all a touch academic in flavour.

Slick and professional: David Chaulk shows off his stagecraft as well as his playing

The same could also be said of Michael Ford , an exceptionally confident horn soloist who was playing in his 9th Champions Final. His choice of John Golland's ‘Rhapsody' was delivered with a level of assuredness that was certainly impressive although much like David Chaulk it was a touch academic and lacking in emotive content and he had to be content with third place overall.

Just about getting there! Mike Ford squeezes every last ounce out to claim third place

Philip Johnston on the other hand produced a performance that had the hallmarks of sheer artistry written all over it.

This likeable man from the Woolston Band is a quite remarkable player (and character) and here he showed just why he is rightly regarded as perhaps the finest Bb tuba player in the brass band world. His performance of ‘Variations for Ophicleide' was technically stunning but also so musically lyrical it was like hearing a cellist playing at the top of their form.

Man or tuba? No hiding behind a bushel for the winner though - the remarkable Philip Johnston

He may lack the stagecraft of many of his rivals but that is more than made up by the sheer musical clarity of his playing. He was the one performer on the night that literally sent a shiver down your spine – not just because of his great technique, but because he made it sound so interesting too.

After he had played the contest was over and done with in reality although there were still a number of quality performances to come.

Fendall Hill on soprano delivered a powerful performance of his own work ‘Definitions' that showed his qualities to the full and ensured that he was highly commended for his efforts by the adjudicators come the results. 


Highly commended: Soprano champion Fendall Hill plays it his own way

David Mallett on baritone was a strong and purposeful performer on ‘Rangitoto' by Goff Richards which perhaps needed just a bit more heart and soul from the performer to lift it from being just an impressive piece of technical accomplishment.  

Meanwhile, John Sullivan delivered a real old piece of cornet solo archaeology from William Rimmer called ‘Dixie Land' with true period aplomb whilst both Stuart Bent on trombone playing ‘Concert Piece' and tuba player James Sutherland on Gregson's ‘Tuba Concerto' showed a great deal of future promise with their performances too.

Overall the contest perhaps didn't provide the audience with a real showcase of performances to take the breath away, although each had merit – some considerably so.

What was disappointing however was the lack of stage craft on display throughout the night – just David Chaulk really using the occasion to look like he was really enjoying the experience and showing a touch of professionalism in the way he went about his business. Nearly every other player was cocooned in a bubble of their own making, failing to make any effort to interact with the audience (nearly all performed too near the piano and not directly facing the audience). It looked so amateurish as they came on, tuned up, played and left with just a cursory acknowledgment to those who had paid to listen to them.

The playing also revealed that perhaps some more adventurous repertoire is also in need of selection too, which may allow the performers to develop as true artists rather than just accomplished solo players in their own right.

That though is for another day but there was little doubt that the judges got it bang to right with the announcement of the winner.  Mr Johnston is a truly fantastic artist on his chosen instrument.

Iwan Fox and Anthony Banwell