Simon Dobson's 'Journey of the Lone Wolf' is set to test the top flight bands at the oldest National Brass Band Championship in the world.

The composition inspired by the life, work and personality of the enigmatic Hungarian composer Bela Bartok will face the Championship Section rivals at the 2017 New Zealand National Championships next April. Each band will also perform an own-choice work and a sacred item.

Audience winner

The contest, which first took place in 1880, when the winner was decided by the audience, will take place in Wellington between the 19th and 23rd April, and will also encompass three other senior sections as well as the prestigious solo competitions and popular street march.

Bands in the B Grade will have to perform Edward Gregson's 'Dances & Arias', originally commissioned for the National Championships of Great Britain in 1984, with the C Grade contenders faced with 'Purcell Variations' by Kenneth Downie. The D Grade bands will perform ''Mid All the Traffic' by Leonard Ballantine.

The contest, which first took place in 1880, with the winner decided by the audience, will take place in Wellington between the 19th and 23rd April4BR

Closing date and further information:

The closing date for entries is Sunday 18th February.

For further information go to: http://www.brassbanz.org/