*
banner

Report & Results: 2024 New South Wales State Championships

Willoughby City Band lead the way with the State honours in Penrith.

New South Wales
  The contest has a history going back to teh start of the 20th century

The New South Wales State Championships, which have a history going back to the start of the 20th century, took place at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith last weekend.

Willoughby win

There were keenly fought events in each of the sections which were also live-streamed by www.brassbanned.com.

The A Grade title was won in comprehensive manner by Willoughby City Band conducted by Dominic Longhurst. Their performances of the set-work, 'A Lowry Sketchbook' alongside their sacred item of 'Ave Maria' and own-choice of 'Extreme Make-Over' saw them top all three musical disciplines to secure the title for the first time since 2019.

Their performances drew praise from adjudicator David Gallaher, whilst their MD will now be heading to the UK to play with Brighouse & Rastrick at the British Open.

Holroyd Brass was second in what was a close battle with 2018 champion Warringah Concert Brass.

B Grade champs

The B Grade honours were claimed for the first time since 2014 by Cairns Brass No 1 led by Jon Christodoulides in the tightest of battles with Willoughby Brass No.2 led by Dominic Longhurst.

In the end it was Cairns' exciting account of their own-choice work, 'Keystone' by Thierry Deleruyelle that saw them pip Willoughby's 'Albinus Variations' by a single point. Third place went to Parramatta City.

Keen battles

Gosford City took the C Grade honours ahead of Newcastle PCYC Brass and City of Orange in an entertaining three-way battle decided by the two-point margin gained by the eventual winner on their own-choice selection of 'Endeavour'.

Waratah Brass Academy pipped Nowra Town Band and City of Wollongong Brass Junior in the D Grade event, to take their first ever State title after coming runner-up last year, with City of Wollongong Brass Junior Band taking the Junior B Grade honours.

The A Grade title was won in comprehensive manner by Willoughby City Band conducted by Dominic Longhurst4BR

Results:

A Grade:

Adjudicator: David Gallaher
Test Piece: A Lowry Sketchbook (Philip Wilby)
Sacred item/Set Test/Own Choice = Total

1. Willoughby City (Dominic Longhurst): 95/46/97 = 238
2. Holroyd Brass (Dale Vail): 93/44/94 = 231
3. Warringah Concert Brass (John Saunders): 92/43/93 = 228

B Grade:

Adjudicator: David Gallaher
Test Piece: Rhapsody in Brass (Dean Goffin)
Sacred item/Set Test/Own Choice = Total

1. Cairns Brass No 1 (Jon Christodoulides): 85/44/96 = 225
2. Willoughby Brass No.2 (Dominic Longhurst): 84/45/95 = 224
3. Parramatta City (Luke Bradbery): 82/42/92 = 216
4. Canberra Brass (Veronica Boulton): 83/40/90 = 213
5. Toronto Brass (Tim O'Hearn): 81/41/91 = 213
6. Southern Brass (Heather Berman): 80/39/89 = 208

C Grade:

Adjudicator: David Gallaher
Test Piece: Hungerford Town (Darrol Barry)
Sacred item/Set Test/Own Choice = Total

1. Gosford City Brass (Rowen McBride): 92/45/93 = 230
2. Newcastle PCYC Brass (Teena Wallace): 91/46/91 = 228
3. Orange Brass Band (Philip Rees): 90/44/90 = 224
4. City of Wollongong Brass (Kevin Skues): 89/43/89 = 221

D Grade:

Adjudicator: David Gallaher
Test Piece: Vengeance (Jared McCunnie) or Neverland (Christopher Bond) or Mexican Fiesta (Ronald Hanmer) or An Australian Fantasy (Gordon Langford)
Sacred item/Set Test/Own Choice = Total
Adjudicators: David Gallaher

1. Waratah Brass Academy (Therese Hayden): 91/45/92 = 228
2. Nowra Town Band (Kevin Skues): 89/46/91 = 226
3. Wollongong Brass Junior Band (Desmond Cannings): 88/44/90 = 222

Junior B Grade:

Adjudicator: David Gallaher
Test Piece: An Australian Fantasy (Gordon Langford) or Ross Roy (Jacob de Haan) or Prelude on Lavenham (Geoffrey Nobes) or Episode for Brass (Dale Vail)
Sacred item/Set Test/Own Choice = Total

1. City of Wollongong Brass Junior Band (Desmond Cannings)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Gregson and Bliss

Gregson and Bliss to challenge National Finalists

March 30 • Significant composer anniversaries will be marked at London and Cheltenham this year.


Youth Brass 2000

Report & Results: 2025 National Youth Championships of Great Britain

March 30 • Youth Brass 2000 reclaims the Championship honours with Shepherd Youth Group taking the Performance title in Hull.


National Youth Champs

Hull ready for National Youth Championships

March 28 • There is a packed day of music making to enjoy at Hymers College in Hull on Saturday with a record field of bands and players taking to the stage.


Breet and Keith

Baker and Wilkinson renew Atlantic connection

March 28 • A 30 year musical friendship has been reconnected between Brett Baker and Dr Keith Wilkinson.


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB


Bilton Silver Rugby Band - Bilton Silver at the Musicals

Saturday 5 April • St Andrew's Church, Rugby CV21 3PT


Rushden Town Band - Hope Spring Concert

Saturday 5 April • Hope Methodist Church, Linnets Lane, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire NN10 8DE


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Simon Langton Brass

April 1 • Due to forced retirement - Simon Langton Brass (Conductor Keith Demetriou Twyman) has a vacancy for an experienced back row cornet player. Position is negotiable as is a willingness to share your experience with our next generation of cornet players!


Ibstock Brick Brass

April 1 • Midlands Area Champions IBB have an opening for a full-time Tuba player (position negotiable) . . Ambitious and enjoying a varied concert/contest program, IBB are looking forward to the third section finals 2025. Rehearsals Mon/Thu in Coalville, M1 J22


Ibstock Brick Brass

April 1 • Midlands Area Champions IBB have an opening for an experienced percussionist. . . Ambitious and enjoying a varied concert/contest program, we are looking forward to the third section finals 2025. Rehearsals Mon/Thu in Coalville, close to M1 J22


Martin Heartfield

GGSM, ARCM, PGCE
Conductor, Adjudicator, Educationalist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd