4BR will be making a 27 hour trip to Napier in the next few days to report from the 136th New Zealand National Championships.
World's oldest
The oldest National Championship in the banding world — first held in 1880 in Christchurch, runs from July 13th-17th at a number of different venues in the seaport city on the eastern coast of the North Island, famous for its wonderful art deco architecture and superb wines.
The A & B Grade Championship events, as well as the prestigious Open Champion of Champions Solo Competition will be held at the recently refurbished Napier Municipal Theatre, with other Grade contests and events at the modern MTG Century Theatre and Mission Estate Winery.
Action starts
The action starts on Wednesday (13th July) with the start of the keenly fought solo and ensemble competitions, which run through to Thursday evening, when the Open Champion of Champions title will be decided.
Friday sees the start of the section Grade events alongside the famous Parade of Bands street march in the afternoon. The A Grade Championship Section bands will perform their sacred item and set-work in the evening, followed the next day by their own-choice selections.
Of Distant Memories
The set-work for the A Grade bands is Edward Gregson's popular homage to the golden age of pioneering brass band musicality 'Of Distant Memories', whilst Philip Wilby's, 'A Lowry Sketchbook' twill be a stern test for the B Grade rivals.
Morley Calvert's 'Canadian Folk Song Suite' and David Chaulk's sacred item 'He Cares for Me' are the set- tests for bands in the C and D Grades respectively.
The set-work for the A Grade bands is Edward Gregson's popular homage to the golden age of pioneering brass band musicality 'Of Distant Memories'4BR
Coverage
The Chief Adjudicator this year is Dr Robert Childs, with the Assistant Chief Adjudicator, Peter Adams.
We will provide our usual contest coverage when we touch down in Napier, with interviews, images, Twitter and post match analysis.
Competing bands:
A Grade:
Set-Work: Of Distant Memories (Edward Gregson) plus Own-Choice and Sacred Item
Marlborough District Brass (Kevin Moseley)
North Shore Brass (Colin Clark)
Waitakere Auckland Brass (Howard Taylor)
Wellington Brass (David Bremner)
Woolston Brass (Tyme Marsters)
B Grade:
Set-Work: A Lowry Sketchbook (Philip Wilby) plus Own-Choice and Sacred Item
Addington Brass (David Fiu)
Brass Wanganui (Bruce Jellyman)
Deco Bay Brass (Robbie Cargill)
Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass (Alan Spence)
Hamilton City Brass (Glenn Richards)
Hutt City Brass (Mark Davey)
Palmerston North Brass (David Maas)
The Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass (Leigh Martin)
Trust Porirua City Brass (Kerry Garrett)
C Grade:
Set-Work: Canadian Folk Song Suite (Morley Calvert) plus Own-Choice and Sacred Item
Howick Brass (Luke Christiansen)
Levin & Districts Brass (Colin Honey)
Nelson City Brass (Nigel Weeks)
Rotorua Brass (Jim McGregor)
Te Awamutu Brass (Glen Parr)
D Grade:
Own Choice plus Sacred Item and Stage March
Kumeu Brass (Mark Close)
Masterton Brass (Robert Priday)
Matamata Brass (Memorie Brooky)
