Wellington takes a 6th National Title
Wellington Brass won a sixth successive elite level national title in Manukau, New Zealand. Wellington’s win, under the inspirational leadership of David Bremner, was convincing as they won all three contest disciplines to give the widest overall points margin of victory since 2013. THe band built on a solid foundation with a beautiful performance of the sacred work ‘And my soul overflow!’ by David Chaulk, followed by a scintillating reading of ‘Whitsun Wakes’. Victory was sealed with a fantastic rendition of ‘Sand and Stars’, leaving NSB Nelson City Brass and North Shore Brass to take 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
Commenting on the win David Bremner stated, "I'm so proud of the hard work the band continues to put it in year after year to play at this incredible level. I'm constantly inspired by their musicianship and craft and could not be more inspired by their drive to perform these wonderful pieces at the highest level.”
In his pre-results address, adjudicator Dr Brett Baker was glowing in his praise of what he had heard, "It's been fabulous coming here, a real thrill, and I loved every minute of the performances." With the event being hosted as part of a wider Pacifica Festival of Brass, there were welcome banding visitors throughout the sections from Australia, Hong Kong, Tonga and Japan. Festival Chairperson Owen Melhuish stated that it had been "a Pacifica Festival of inclusive culture and spirit" with an ethos of "family, unity, strength and talent that had been enjoyed by everyone who attended and took part".
Full results for all sections are below:
A Grade:
Adjudicator: Dr Brett Baker
Sacred Item/Set-test/Own-choice = Total
1. Wellington Brass (David Bremner): 49.0/98/97 = 244.0
2. NBS Nelson City Brass (Nigel Weeks): 48/96/94 = 238.0
3. North Shore Brass (Harmen Vanhoorne): 47.5/95/95 = 237.5
4. Immortal Brass Eternally (Kazuyuki Kouno): 47/94/93 = 234.0
5. Hamilton City Brass (Todd Smith): 47.5/9/90 = 230.5
6. Brass Whanganui (Bruce Jellyman): 46/92/92 = 230.0
7. Waitakere Auckland Brass (Grant Langdon): 46.5/91/91 = 228.5
Best Soloist (Set-test): Mike Ford (horn) — NBS Nelson City Brass
Best Principal Cornet (Own-choice): Kay MacKenzie — NBS Nelson City Brass
Best Section (Set-test): Basses of NBS Nelson City Brass
B Grade:
Adjudicator: Dr Brett Baker
Sacred Item/Set-test/Own-choice = Total
1. Tupou College Tonga (Rev. Eloni Tu'akoi Niu): 48.0/98/93 = 239.0
2. Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass (Andrew Leech): 47.5/96/95 = 238.5
3. Hutt City Brass (Matthew Stein): 47.0/94/97 = 238.0
4. Auckland City Brass (Mark Close): 47.5/95/90 = 232.5
5. Addington Brass (Adrian Dalton): 46.5/93/92 = 231.5
6. Trust Porirua City Brass (Nicholas Garrett): 46.0/90/94 = 230.0
7. Hong Kong Brass Band (Tak Chun Lai): 45.5/89/91 = 225.5
8. Parramatta City Band (Luke Bradbury): 46.0/91/88 = 225.0
9. Tauranga City Brass (Steve Thompson): 45.5/87/89 = 221.50
10. The Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass (Bryce Gordon): 45.0/88/87 = 220.0
11. Marion City Band (Aaron Madden): 46.5/86/87 = 219.5
Best Soloist (Set-test): Principal cornet (Eastern Bay of Plenty)
Best Soloist (Own-choice): Principal cornet (Hutt City Brass)
C Grade:
Adjudicator: Michael Dowrick
Sacred Item/Set-test/Own-choice = Total
1. Matamata Brass (Glenn Richards): 45.75/94/90 = 229.75
2. Rolleston Brass (Raynor Martin): 45.5/92/92 = 229.5
3. Nor'west Brass (Nicholas Scott): 44.5/92.5/88.5 = 225.5
4. North Shore Brass Academy (Billy Middleton): 44.0/90.5/88 = 222.5
5. Levin & Districts Brass (David Maas): 43.0/90/89 = 222.0
6. Upper Hutt Brass (Aaron Lloydd): 45.0/91/84 = 220.0
7. Howick Brass (Matthew Verrill): 42.0/88/82 = 212.0
8. Te Awamutu Brass (Sarah Carroll): 42.0/83/86.5 = 211.5
9. Papakura City Brass (Brent Hayward): 41.5/84/85 = 210.5
10. Hawera Brass (Karl Anderson): 40.0/82/83 = 205.0
D Grade:
Adjudicator: Michael Dowrick
Sacred Item/Set-test/Own-choice march = Total
1. Maamaloa Brass Band (Kalino Pongi): 93/91.5/89 = 273.5
2. Kumeu Brass (Linda H Filimoehala): 92/90/86 = 268.0
3. Motueka District Brass (Katie Scott): 89/88/83 = 260.0
Youth Grade:
Adjudicator: Tyme Marsters
Major Work/Concert programme = Total
1. Auckland Seventh-day Adventist High (Samiu Uatahausi):
2. Auckland City Maamaloa Youth Band (Xiaoyang Hu & Langi Mausia):
3. North Shore Youth Brass (Mark Close):
Parade of Bands:
A Grade: Brass Whanganui
B Grade: Tupou College, Tonga
C Grade: Rolleston Brass
Overall Champion: Tupou College, Tonga
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