The Brass Band Association of New Zealand has announced the set-works to be performed at their National Championships to be held in Invercargill in April 2027.

A Grade

The Championship A Grade bands will perform 'The Cosmographic Mystery' by Norwegian composer Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen. Originally commissioned by Oslofjord Brass to be performed at the 2023 Norwegian National Championships, it has since been performed as an own-choice and set-work in Norway, North America, Australia and France.

B Grade

'Terra Australis' by Martin Ellerby will challenge the B Grade bands.

Written for Prof David King and the YBS Band for their 2005 'Kings of Brass' tour to Australia, it was first used as a contest piece at the 2007 Australian Championships, followed by the 2010 Royal Albert Hall National Championship.

It has also been used at the Swiss Open and Belgian National Championships and British Open Spring Festival.

C Grade

Thierry Deleruyelle's 'Viking Age' will be the set-work for the C Grade.

Although inspired by the era of Scandinavian Viking conquest and exploration between the 8th and 11th centuries, the four-movement work is actually dedicated to a French band.

Published in 2017 it has since become a popular contesting work, used as a set-test in Ireland, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Denmark and Australia as well as around the world as an own-choice piece.

D Grade

D Grade bands will perform the self-published work, 'When One Sees the Light' by Mia Yee.

Mia is currently studying Design and Music at Victoria University of Wellington. Mia is currently a member of Wellington Brass and a former player with Addington Brass, the National Secondary Schools' Brass Band and National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand.

She was the winner of the 2025 New Zealand Young Brass Musician of the Year.

Further details

Further details of the various solo works to be performed have also been announced, with details of the adjudicators to follow.