The 138th New Zealand Brass Band Championships are underway in Blenheim at the moment — and you can enjoy the action thanks to the live-streaming led by the irrepressible 'Handsome' Tim Kelly and brassbanned.com
It is free, but you can support his efforts with an optional payment if you wish.
Champion of Champions
Today's action comes from the prestigious Champion of Champions event — first held in 1927, and which sees the very best performers (all individual instrumental National champions in their own right) bidding to lift the Errol Mason Memorial Trophy.
Mason was one of the great post war figures in New Zealand banding — a multiple National Solo Champion on cornet (including two hat-tricks) and the winner of the Champion of Champions title on no less than six occasions — including gaining 99 marks out of 100 in winning in 1971.
He also won the renowned Australian Ern Keller event three times, and conducted Continental Airlines Auckland to success at the Australian Nationals in 1983 and the New Zealand Championships in 1986. He died in 1987.
It's followed up over the next three days with action from all the major competitions, so why not join Tim and the team in Blenheim.
Go to: https://brassbanned.com/ and then pick Hall 1
Live-streaming schedule
Thursday 12th July:
7.30pm: Champion of Champions (8:30am UK)
Friday 13th July:
8.30am: (Hall 1) B Grade Sacred Item & Test (9.30pm UK)
1.00pm: (Outdoors) Parade of Bands (2.00am UK)
3.30pm: (Hall 2) C Grade Sacred Item & Test (4.30am UK)
4.30pm: (Hall 1) A Grade Sacred Item & Test (5.30am UK)
Saturday 14th July:
9.00am: (Hall 1) B Grade Own Choice (10.00pm UK)
9.30am: (Hall 2) C Grade Own Choice (10.30pm UK)
2.00pm: (Hall 2) D Grade & Youth Contests (3.00am UK)
5.00pm: (Hall 1) A Grade Own Choice (6.00am UK)
Sunday 15th July:
2.00pm: (Hall 1) Premiere Brass: In Concert (3.00am UK)
