Bremner to bid National farewell

The driving force behind the rise of New Zealand National Champion Wellington Brass is to step down from his role as MD after this year's National contest in its home city.

David Bremner will step down from his role as MD with Wellington Brass after the National Championships.

Tuesday, 07 February 2017

David Bremner, the inspirational driving force behind the rise of New Zealand's premier band Wellington Brass, has announced that he is to step down from his role as Musical Director after this year's National Championship contest.

The professional trombonist took over the struggling B Grade band in 2006 and shaped them into the southern hemisphere's leading contest outfit, accumulating a record four consecutive New Zealand A Grade National Championship titles from 2013-2016 along the way.

Double

In 2015 they claimed the 'Double', winning both the New Zealand and Australian National titles, whilst along the way they won B Grade title in both countries.

In 2016 the band toured the UK culminating in competing at the British Open Championship, and has gained a widely respected reputation in New Zealand as an innovative concert outfit and as a progressive, outwardly looking musical organisation.

He now hopes to end his time at the helm by being able to hold aloft the famous Gold Trophy, presented to the New Zealand National Champion, for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time in his home city of Wellington in April.

Inspirational

Wellington Brass spokesperson Byron Newton told 4BR: "David has been truly inspirational as MD.

He took over a very young band and with his level of musicianship and charisma he was able to very quickly develop our young players as well as attract many of NZ's top brass musicians, resulting in a golden period unseen in Wellington's contest history."

His attention to detail and musical vision sets him apart from the rest of the pack, he is simply world class."

I feel like I've accomplished a lot of what I wanted when I set out on this journey with the band. I'm happy to step down from conducting knowing that Wellington Brass is in a much better place than it was when I startedDavid Bremner

Accomplished a lot

Meanwhile, the MD added: "I feel like I've accomplished a lot of what I wanted when I set out on this journey with the band.

I'm happy to step down from conducting knowing that Wellington Brass is in a much better place than it was when I started."

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