The renowned Ern Keller Memorial Contest will provide an exciting start to the Australian banding year later this month.
Prestigious
Held at the St Mary’s Band Club in Sydney on Sunday 24th February, it has become one of the most prestigious solo championships in the banding world.
Players from around the globe will hope to claim the 39th title honours by impressing chief adjudicator Ron Prussing, principal trombonist of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Famous names
The first winner of the event was Cliff Nicholas from Queensland in 1974, and over the intervening years some of the most famous names in world banding have taken part – including until recently, the winner of the British Open Solo Championships.
In the past few years the likes of Glen Van Looy, Harmen Vanhoorne, Katrina Marzella and Andrew King have taken the trophy home to the northern hemisphere, although the 2012 winner was the outstanding New Zealand cornet player John Lewis.
Invitations
Each year, an invitation is extended to the State band organisations in Australia to nominate a representative to compete as well as the Australian Champion of Champions and representatives from Japan and New Zealand.
Competitors
This year’s competitors include three-time champion Joe Cook from Tasmania, 1999 winner, tuba star Phil Johnstone from New Zealand and 2004 champion Kevin Joughin.
Chris Moran (Australian National)
Andre Carpenter (Queensland)
Jonathon Ramsay (New South Wales)
Matthew Van Emmerick (Victoria)
Joe Cook (Tasmania)
Kevin Joughin (South Australia)
Sarah Draper (Western Australia)
Phil Johnston (New Zealand)
Shiho Takeda (Japan)
This year’s competitors include three-time champion Joe Cook from Tasmania, 1999 winner, tuba star Phil Johnstone from New Zealand and 2004 champion Kevin Joughin4BR
Band of the Year
Following the conclusion of the Solo Championship, Howard Taylor and Peter Walmsley will join with Ron Prussing to adjudicate the Ern Keller 'Band of the Year' event.
Competing this year are:
St Marys Band Club Brass (Ben Crocker)
Warringah Brass (John Saunders)
Willoughby Band (Warrick Tyrrel)
More information
For more information, go to:
