2008 New Zealand Championships - Introduction and Schedule

This weekend see the 128th New Zealand Brass Band Championships take place in Christchurch.

The Kiwi's are well known for running great contests - and this one is shaping up to be no different.

Thirty three bands and over 200 soloists will take to the stage over the course of the five days.

One of the most critical components of any well run contest is the venue.  The Christchurch Town Hall complex is a superior venue, certainly the best in New Zealand, and it is good to see that after a flirtation with other halls, the organising committee have secured this premier locale.

All events including the solo and party competitions will take place within the confines of the Town Hall and Convention Centre which will be much appreciated by the competitors who will be well protected from the bitter cold of the Christchurch winter.

The A and B grade Bands will perform in the magnificent auditorium. Rightly regarded as an outstanding concert venue it will be interesting to see how Bands cope with the unique acoustic. 

The C and D grade Bands perform in the Christchurch Convention Centre. It is certainly pleasing to see nine C and five D grade bands at the contest. However, it must be regarded as a major disappointment that there are no entrants in the junior grade.

Three Australian Bands make the trip over which bolsters the number of A grade bands to ten given the recent shock withdrawal of Dalewool.  There is no doubting the talent of the Australian entrants but whether they are looking forward to the likely arctic conditions is another matter.

The adjudicators for the championships are Simone Rebello and Peter Adams. Peter Adams is a highly respected musician. A senior lecturer in music at Otago University and highly successful conductor  the C and D grades can look forward to performing for the accomplished Adams.

The A and B grade bands will be assessed by the outstanding English percussionist Simone Rebello. Simone Rebello adjudicates regularly at Band contests in England and Europe.  Although the appointment has not been universally welcomed there can be no doubt about Rebello’s credentials.

The contest committee would appear to have secured some excellent sponsorship which has, in turn, allowed for the improvements in quality of the infrastructure of this contest - from the venue to things like the quality of the full colour program.

Helen Hoy is once again Contest Manager so events and scheduling are sure to be highly organised. This is Helen’s last year and whoever takes over will have the unenviable task of maintaining the standards of this doyen of contest administrators. 

SCHEDULE

Wednesday 9 July

12 noon Junior and Under 15 Solos (except Percussion), Masters solo, and Open Ensembles
7.30 pm The Simon Hocking House of Travel - Invitation Slow Melody

Thursday 10 July
9am Open Solos, Junior Ensembles and all Percussion solo and ensemble events
Percussion Workshop to follow the percussion solo events
5.30 pm Junior Champion of Champions Event
7.30 pm KBB Music - Open Champion of Champions Event

Friday 11 July
9.00 am York Instruments B Grade Sacred Item and Test piece, Town Hall Auditorium
1.00 pm Parade of Bands, Victoria Square 
3.30 pm C Grade Sacred Item and Test piece, Convention Centre
5.30 pm  York Instruments A GradeSacred Item and Test piece, Town Hall Auditorium

Saturday 12 July
10.00 am C Grade Own Choice, Convention Centre
10.30 am  York Instruments B Grade Own Choice, Town Hall Auditorium
3.30 pm D Grade, Convention Centre 
5.00 pm York Instruments A Grade Own Choice, Town Hall Auditorium
7.30 pm Social evening Scenic Circle Lounge,  AMI Stadium

Sunday 13 July
2 pm The Scenic Circle Hotels Band of the Year, Town Hall Auditorium