The final of the inaugural New Zealand Young Brass Musician of the Year competition took place in Wellington last Wednesday evening.

Held at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, the event with its accompanying $1000 first prize was won by Kyle Lawson, a 22 year old cornetist in the New Zealand Army Band and principal cornet of Woolston Brass.

Kyle (above) will now be the featured guest soloist with two of the country’s top bands, Woolston Brass and Dalewool Auckland Brass.

Showcase

The competition, very much in the mode of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist Competition in the UK, is open to all brass players in New Zealand aged between 16 and 25, and offers the opportunity to showcase their solo talents in concert with full brass band accompaniment.

The first round saw soloists provide a video audition of between 8-15 minutes, consisting of a solo performance with piano, brass band or recorded backing track accompaniment.

Five finalists

Jurors David Bremner (Principal Trombone New Zealand Symphony Orchestra) and Philip Johnstone (Bandmaster NZ Army Band), then selected five finalists who presented a programme of 20 minutes accompanied by New Zealand National Champion, Wellington Brass.

Complete control

David Elton (Principal Trumpet of the Sydney Symphony), who joined the panel for the final, commented that Kyle’s performances of ‘Napoli’ (H. Bellstedt),’Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms’ (D. Hunsberger), and ‘Tucker’ (E. Leidzen), were delivered with complete control, enhanced with beautiful a tone which held the audience’s attention from start to finish.

Exceptional

The exceptional line up of finalists saw 21 year old cornet player Kieran Smith perform ‘The Debutant’ (H. Clarke), ‘Pastorale’ (G. Richards), and ‘Song and Dance’, (P. Sparke), with 22 year old trombonist Andrew Yorkstone playing ‘Clouds’ (A. Ritchie), and ‘Morceau Symphonique’ (A. Guilmant).

Luke Spence, a 19 year old euphonium player performed the second movement of the Horovitz ‘Euphonium Concerto’, and ‘Pantomime’ (P. Sparke), whilst 16 year old cornetist Toby Pringle, delivered ‘Rhapsody for Cornet and Brass Band’ (G. Langford) and ‘Pastorale’ (G. Richards).

His winning performances were delivered with complete control, enhanced with beautiful a tone which held the audience’s attention from start to finish4BR

Support

The competition was founded and organised by Byron Newton with the help of the New Zealand Brass Foundation who provided the prize money and flights for the finalists.

For further information go to: www.nzybm.info