Brisbane Excelsior, conducted by Howard Taylor has won the 2010 Australian National Championships in Hobart, Tasmania.

Return victory

The Queensland based band returned to the event this year after deciding not to defend its title in Sydney in 2009, following four successive victories at the contest.

The result brings to fitting close the highly successful 8-year tenure of Howard Taylor, who has decided to step down as MD following the championships.

Commanding win

Brisbane’s performances of the set work, ‘Extreme MakeOver’, own choice selection of ‘Dreams’ by Bertrand Moren, plus hymn and march disciplines gave them a commanding 16 point winning margin over runner up Kew Band, with Brisbane Brass in third.

Large variance

The adjudicator Johan de Meij was complimentary about the overall standard of performances he had heard over the four sections of the contest, although a closer look at his markings (especially for his own set work) revealed a large variance in the points awarded.

Brisbane Excelsior gained 188 points for their performance of the adjudicator’s own ‘Extreme MakeOver’, with Brisbane Brass some 8 points behind in second. Both Kew and Warringah Concert were a further 3 points further back in joint third.

Meanwhile, Footscray-Yarraville in 6th were 23 points behind the leaders, with Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia Brass, who were placed 14th, a massive 34 points adrift.

Recovered deficit

Kew, conducted by Mark Ford, recovered some of the 18 point deficit they found themselves facing on the second day, when they produced a fine account of ‘…Dove Descending’ to win the own choice section of the contest and come second to Brisbane in the march section.

The result brings to fitting close the highly successful 8-year tenure of Howard Taylor, who has decided to step down as MD following the championships4BR

Dreams come true

However, Brisbane’s ‘Dreams’ of a fifth National title under Howard Taylor’s command were realised as they managed to end just 3 points behind their rivals on the own choice and take the March element by a point.

Brisbane Brass meanwhile could only manage 5th place with their own choice selection of ‘Paganini Variations’ and were placed 6th on the March discipline to end a single point behind Kew in third.

In the final placings, 4th was taken by Warringah Concert, with Glenorchy in 5th and Footscray Yaaraville, who won the opening ‘Hymn’ element of the contest in 6th.

Lower Grades

In the B Grade contest there was a commanding victory for Gunnedah Shire Band, whilst there were wins for City of Holroyd in the C Grade and Boroondara Harmony Brass in the D Grade.

The Junior titles were won by Gunnedah Shire, Hobart Junior and Warriparinga Brass.

Full Results:
Hymn+Test+Own Choice+March=Total

A Grade:

1. Brisbane Excelsior, (42+188+184+46) = 460
2. Kew Band, (35+177+187+45) = 444
3. Brisbane Brass, (43+180+179+41) = 443
4. Warringah Concert Brass, (37+177+180+42) = 436
5. Glenorchy City Concert Brass, (35+161+182+44) = 422
6. Footscray-Yarraville City, (44+165+170+40) = 419
7. City of Holroyd Band, (42+175+162+37) = 416
8. South Brisbane Federal, (38+158+175+43) = 414
9. Hobart Brass Band, (36+161+178+38) = 413
10. Darebin City Brass — Preston, (40+157+177+39 = 413
11. K&N Spring Gully Brass, (39+160+165+36) = 400
12. Boroondara Brass, (40+162+159+33) = 394
13. Hawthorn Band, (42+155+160+35) = 392
14. Royal Agricultural Society of WA Brass, (34+154+158+34) = 380

B Grade:

1. Gunnedah Shire Junior Band, (43+170+180+47) = 440
2. Townsville Brass, (44+165+181+46) = 436
3. Parramatta City Band, (40+160+178+48) = 426
4. Geelong West Brass, (40+160+165+44) = 409
5. Brisbane Brass 2, (37+166+160+42) = 405
6. Windsor Brass, (42+165+155+43) = 405
7. City of Greater Dandenong Brass, (42+155+16+42) = 401
8. City of Launceston RSL Brass, (39+155+160+44) = 398
9. Toronto Brass, (42+160+155+38) = 395

C Grade:

1. City of Holroyd Band, (39+168+164+34) = 405
2. Darebin City Brass/Northern Brass, (36+167+165+35) = 403
3. Marion City Band, (37+165+163+35) = 400
4. Marist Bros Band, (37+166+161+35) = 399
5. Bankstown -Yagoona Brass, (35+165+162+36) = 398
6. City of Burnie Brass, (40+164+160+34) = 398

D Grade:

1. Boroondara Harmony Brass, (39+146+132+34) = 351
2. Pimlico State High School Brass, (37+142+130+34) = 343
3. Busselton Shire Brass, (32+139+128+33) = 332
4. Glenorchy City Community Brass, (35+140+120+30) = 325

Junior Brass Bands: A Grade

1. Gunnedah Shire Band, (44+182+184+45) = 455
2. Warringah Youth Brass, (40+175+180+42) = 437

Junior Brass Bands: B Grade

1. Hobart Junior Brass, (40+110+120+40) = 310

Junior Brass Bands: C Grade

1. Warriparinga Brass, (33+132+132+36) = 333
2. Glenorchy City Youth Brass, (32+130+131+34) = 327
3. Hyde Street Youth, (30+128+129+35) = 322