The first ever International Brass Festival to be held in New Zealand will take place next month.

Three day event

The three day event starting on September 21st will see a world-class line up of local and international brass players performing in concerts and workshops.

The amazing headline act this year is Mnozil Brass, who will bring the festival to a close on the evening of Sunday the 23rd of September.

Combined brass

The opening Friday night gala concert kicks off with a combined brass ensemble made up of members of the professional orchestras across New Zealand, performing works by Wagner, Strauss and Shostakovich, and the descriptive ‘Fanfare Liturgiques’ by Tomasi.

The concert will also feature UK euphonium star Dave Thornton, US trumpet superstar Rex Richardson, the Australian Brass Quintet and NZ's own ‘BonaNZa’ trombone quartet.

Clinics and workshops

Throughout the weekend, the artists will feature in recital and clinics, as well as being joined by a brass band made up of the finest players from across New Zealand. Conducted by Nigel Weeks, they will perform a concert at 4.30pm on Sunday the 23rd including Peter Graham's, ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’, Saint Saens ‘Organ Symphony’ and Wagner's ‘Procession to the Minster’.

The concert will also feature Rex Richardson performing ‘Rextreme’ by Jim Stephenson and David Thornton performing ‘Blue Rider’ by Kit Turnbull.

Thrilled

Festival Director David Bremner is thrilled with the lineup for the inaugural event and told 4BR: "We are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of musicians performing throughout the weekend.

They are not only all incredibly talented and versatile brass musicians, but fantastic communicators; players of all levels and backgrounds can benefit from their participation in the festival."

Competition

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is supporting a Masterclass competition that sees four talented young players from across New Zealand perform. Two secondary school students, Luke Spence (Euphonium), and Dale Hounsome-Vale (Trombone), and two University students, Ben Robertson (Bass Trombone), and Rosie Evans (Flugel), auditioned and were selected to perform in a masterclass taken by one of the guest artists.

Sensational finale

The Festival culminates on the Sunday evening with a performance by the sensational Mnozil Brass.

David Bremner added: "It’s a huge coup for us to have secured Mnozil Brass to perform. They are the most innovative and exciting brass group on the planet, and to have them as part of the very first NZ Brass Festival is a huge thrill.”

Mnozil Brass will be performing ‘Unravels Blofeld’ at 7.30pm and will bring a close to the first, of hopefully many, NZ Brass Festivals.

More information

Full Festival passes and individual tickets as well as schedule information is available at www.nzbrassfestival.org.nz or email the festival on nzbrassfestival@gmail.com