The Brass Bands Association of New Zealand (BBANZ) have decided to rescind the test music choices for the 2011 National A and C Grade band events.

The Choices

The replacement test music for the A Grade Contest, 2011 is "Les Preludes" (F. Liszt, arranged Bram Gay) and for the C Grade Contest, 2011, "The Haslemere Suite" (Peter Graham).

These pieces were selected by the respective incumbent adjudicators, Messrs. S. Bastable (A Grade) and J. Snowling (C Grade).

The National Management Committee and the General Manager apologise for the mistake made in the selection process and are committed to ensuring this error is not repeated.David Dobson, General Manager, BBANZ

The music initially announced was "On The Shoulder of Giants" (Peter Graham) for A Grade, which was the winning Own Choice in 2010 played by Woolston Brass, and "Oceans" (Goff Richards) for C Grade.

BBANZ Statement

Last week, the day before the announcement of the replacement music, a memo was sent to all bands explaining the situation. The statement from BBANZ General Manager, David Dobston reads:
"The National Management Committee and the General Manager have, since the announcement of the Test Pieces for 2011, received numerous expressions of concern from A Grade Bands and also from C Grade bands regarding the test music selection and the process of selecting this music.

The selection process is as follows:

We brief the outgoing Chief Adjudicator and ask him to submit three potential test pieces. We believe as he has listened to the standard of our bands he is in the best position to choose a test piece. The selected three pieces of music are then forwarded to the incumbent Chief Adjudicator who makes the final decision. The test piece is announced in accordance to our rules. The NMC and the General Manager have no input in this selection process.

Last night during our monthly Skype conference call the NMC discussed the choice of the tests and the selection process. As a result of the Committee’s deliberations it has been decided to rescind the choices announced for the A and C Grades and to approach the respective incumbent adjudicators for a further selection. The committee will also make small changes to the test selection process, in the brief to the Chief Adjudicator and also in the office checking the music chosen to ensure the pieces chosen do not reflect the previous years winning own choice selection.

The incumbent adjudicators have been approached this morning, with a request for expediency. As soon as their decisions are communicated to this office, the titles will be announced.

The National Management Committee and the General Manager apologise for the mistake made in the selection process and are committed to ensuring this error is not repeated. They also wish to thank the members who expressed their concerns and trust that the actions undertaken go some way towards relieving them.

On behalf of the National Management Committee –
Dianne Smeehuyzen, President;
Evan Sayer, Vice- President;
Cathy Bennett, Jeffrey Mulraney, John Sullivan and Robert Wilson"

For more information go to www.brassnz.co.nz