2008 Australian Band Championships

Gallery & Summary: All Other Grades & Junior CofC's

Snapshots and comments from our roving reporters, Deb Geayley and Allan Wardrope.

Junior Bb cornet, Junior Soprano, and Junior Champion of Champions - Josh Rogan from Boroondara Brass

A worthwhile trip for Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band who made the journey across the Tasman.  The band now holds both the New Zealand and Australian Champion B Grade title.  Pelorus played Diversions on a Bass Theme by George Lloyd for its Own Choice.

Members of B Grade band Sutherland Shire await their fate.  Sutherland played Music for the Common Man by Kenneth Downie for its Own Choice.

The B Grade event was almost a one horse race with Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band, under its musical director David Bremner, winning all events except the Stage March, in which it came 2nd to Townsville Brass. 

In the aggregate, Pelorus were 10 points ahead of the 2nd placegetter, Townsville Brass, who played The Devil's Bridge by Bertrand Moren for its Own Choice.  After that, only 6 points separated the next 6 bands - a true indication of how close this competition was.

Adjudicator, Peter Adams from New Zeealand, commented that bands needed to make allowances for the acoustic of the Ithaca Auditorium but very few did.  A lot of bands overblew and had hard sounds rather than warmth.

In overall third place was Geelong West who chose The Land of the Long White Cloud  by Philip Sparke as its Own Choice.  Chivalry by Martin Ellerby was performed by Boroondara Brass who came 4th overall.

Of the Australian bands, Geelong West (Jeff Steele) and Boroondara (Danny van Bergen) from Victoria, Townsville Brass (Kim Lofthouse) from Queensland, and Sutherland Shire (Warwick Tyrell), are surely knocking on the door of A Grade.

Tuba Case Art

Waratah Brass Newcastle No.2 won the C Grade Championships.  Pictured here is its Musical Director, Conrad Curry

The C Grade event was another close section with plenty of sharing of 1st places amongst the 4 bands who competed.

Surfers Paradise Brass

Waratah Brass Newcastle No.2 won the Hymn and Own Choice (Chorale and Toccata, Bulla), Surfers Paradise Brass (Gordon Richmond) won the Test (The Shipbuilders), and Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass Band won the Stage March.

Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass

Other Own Choice selection included:
Surfers Paradise Brass, Music for a Festival (Sparke)
Royal Hifofua Tongan Brass, Seven Wonders (Bloomfield)
Yellow Cabs Bayside Brass, A Malvern Suite (Sparke)

Adjudicator, John Thomas, was pleased with the overall standard of C Grade.

 
The D Grade Championship Presentation

Narrabri Shire Band (Stephen Moore) from New South Wales won the D Grade Championship, closely following by Darebin City Brass - Northern Brass (Andrew Power) in second place, and City of Holroyd (Shaun Yow) in third.

Each of these three bands were almost in a grade of their own with an 11.5 point gap from 3rd place to 4th.

Adjudicator, Dr Peter Morris, commented that he would have liked to have watched the bands, then the ensemble pulse becomes clearer to the ear.  Much of the musical energy was lost during the more exposed sections.

Narrabri Shire Band won both the Test and the Own Choice (Labour and Love, Fletcher) selections.

Brisbane Brass 3 (Bill Barker) won the Hymn Tune and Darebin City Brass - Northern Brass won the Stage March.

There were some outstanding individual solo playing within some of the bands.

Brisbane Brass wins the prize for community spirit.  The organisation had its four bands playing in the National Championships over the weekend.

Members of Brolga Brass from Townsville in North Queensland

Unfortunately for the organisers, there was an embarrassing moment at the D Grade presentation ceremony when the Parade of Bands results were announced incorrectly and the trophy recipients were asked for the return of the trophies so they could be presented to the 'real' winners.  Ouch!

 
2008 Junior A Grade Brass Champions - Gunnedah Shire Junior Band and its MD, Bruce Myers. 

In Junior A Grade, Gunnedah received a clear 2 point margin ahead of Willoughby in the test piece on day 1, and then the gap increased between the two bands even more when, in the Own Choice, Gunnedah was placed 4 points ahead of Willoughby Juniors (Brian McGuinness) on the second day. 

Content to wait until after the clock struck twelve, the winning band, Gunnedah, were well controlled and balanced, and had a very warm, rounded and mature sound for such a young band.

Gunnedah played The Dark Side of the Moon by Paul Lovatt-Cooper as its Own Choice, while Willoughby chose the Sparke work, Kaleidscope.

Willoughby Juniors Soprano player played very well - a player to look out for in the future.

Good things come in small packages!

The Junior B Grade was very close indeed when a countback to the test piece was needed in order to determine the overall champion band. 

Junior B Grade Champions - Warringah Youth

Warringah Youth (John Saunders) were two points ahead of Boroondara Youth (Danny van Bergen) in the test and were awarded the Championship.  Booroondarra, playing Dakota by de Haan, were two points ahead of Warringah Youth (Music from Kantara, Downie) in the Own Choice.  Boroondara Youth won the Stage March by 1 point, and Warringah Youth won the Hymn by 1 point.  The results could not have been any closer.

In Junior C Grade, there was only one entry - Brisbane Brass juniors conducted by Bill Barker.  Bill also conducted the Brisbane Brass 3 in D Grade and played Principal Euphonium for Brisbane Brass in the A Grade.

Other bits and pieces...

Narrabri cuties - Jessica Kennedy and Kristelle Pearson

Adrian Dadds of Brisbane XLCR - "Phew....I didn't put a hole in the timps this year!"

Dick Smalley of Ye Olde Brass is presented with a 50 year service to brass bands medal

Fred McMurray of Yellowcabs Bayside Brass is presented with a 50 year service to brass band medal by QBA Secretary, Annette Ries

The Trade Stands proved popular over the weekend

Dean Morley of Brisbane Excelsior and Steve Stewart from Kirkintilloch in Scotland, on permit with XLCR, act normal.  Between them, they boast six National titles from six different countries around the world.

 Deb Geayley, Allan Wardrope, and Amanda Casagrande