*
banner

Report & Results: 2023 Queensland State Championships

Brisbane Excelsior leads the prize winners on their home turf to retain their State title.

Brisbane
  Brisbane Excelsior celebrates their Championship A Grade title success

The Queensland State Band Championships took place over the weekend of the 22nd-24th September at Somerville House in Brisbane and saw several outstanding performances from the competing bands and individual soloists.

Head to head

Brisbane Excelsior Band dominated the head-to-head A Grade battle with rivals Brisbane Brass to claim the title for the third successive year.

Led by Dale Hosking, they made it a clean sweep of the four individual disciplines with commanding performance of the set-work, 'Ballet for Band' and their own-choice selection of 'Music of the Spheres' in addition to their sacred item and stage march.

Brisbane now sets its sights on the Australian National Championships in Adelaide where they are to be directed by David Bremner from Wellington Brass. The last time they won the title was in 2016.

Unique sound

Adjudicator Peter Luff said that he had "not heard one bad performance" over the entire weekend, with each band "showing their unique sound". He felt the A Grade was very good with the B Grade bands "highlighting their different strengths and weaknesses".

He congratulated the C Grade entrant on their quality and felt that the D Grade was "the highest standard he had ever heard".

The B Grade title was won for the first time since 2016 by Brisbane Excelsior's sibling Windsor Brass conducted by Edward Kennedy.

They also provided the audience with two excellent performances in addition to their sacred item and stage march, of the test-piece, 'Luminosity' by Nancy Galbraith and their own-choice selection of 'Cross Patonce'.

Despite being the only entrant in the C Grade, Bayside Brass conducted by Damian Bowden produced two fine performances of 'Lake of the Moon' and their own-choice of Edward Gregson's 'Partita' in addition to their sacred item and march.

Cairns Brass Youth took the D Grade honours with a clean sweep of the four disciplines under MD, Jon Christodoulides helped by excellent renditions of the Overture 'Henry V' and their own-choice of Music from Kantara.

Stand out soloist

One of the standout moments of the championships was flugel horn player Tamaryn Mirabito's winning performance at the Besson Slow Melody Competition. Mirabito, representing Brisbane Excelsior Band took the honours with a sublime rendition of 'Song for Coda,' a new composition dedicated to her by Benjamin Tubb-Hearne.

The Championships also introduced the first 'Ungraded' events this year, providing a platform for bands not yet prepared for the contest stage with Narangabah Valley High School showing their potential led by Jon Adams.

The band received valuable feedback from chief adjudicator, Peter Luff, paving the way for their future growth and success.

Parade of Bands

Earlier the contest weekend started with the crowd pleasing Parade of Bands which saw Sunnybank Brass claim the 'Most Entertaining Performance' prize, while Townsville Brass' Drum Major earned well-deserved recognition, winning the Champion Drum Major Awards.

With thanks to Chris Caldo

Brisbane now sets its sights on the Australian National Championships in Adelaide where they are to be directed by David Bremner from Wellington Brass4BR

Results:

A Grade:

Set-Test: Ballet for Band (Joseph Horovitz)
Adjudicator: Peter Luff
Sacred Item/Set-Test/Own-Choice/Stage March = Total

1. Brisbane Excelsior (Dale Hosking): 98/192/198/96 = 584
2. Brisbane Brass (Joshua McKechie): 95/188/190/95 = 568

B Grade:

Set-Test: Luminosity (Nancy Galbraith)
Adjudicator: Peter Luff
Sacred Item/Set-Test/Own-Choice/Stage March = Total

1. Windsor Brass (Edward Kennedy): 85/190/187/90 = 552
2. Toowoomba Municipal (Phil Ryan): 84/185/180/85 = 534
3. Sunnybank Brass (Mark Parfitt): 86/182/179/80 = 527

C Grade:

Set-Test: Lake of the Moon (Kevin Houben)
Adjudicator: Peter Luff
Sacred item/Set-test/Own-Choice/Stage March = Total

1. Bayside Brass (Damian Bowden): 85/180/180/97 = 542

D Grade:

Set-Test: Overture: Henry V (Vaughan Williams)
Adjudicator: Peter Luff
Sacred item/Set-test/Own-Choice/Stage March = Total

1. Cairns Brass Youth Band (Jon Christodoulides): 95/192/190/92 = 569
2. Brisbane Brass 3 (Emily Matthews/Med McWilliams): 90/187/187/90 = 544

Junior Brass:

Own Choice programme
Adjudicator: Peter Luff
Own-Choice/Hymn/Stage March = Total

1. Narangbah Valley SHS (Jon Adams): 184/90/85 = 359

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Fodens

Foden's regional reach out for 2026

September 17 • If you want some of the Foden's Area Championship winning formula to rub off on you, then why not sign up for some early test-piece prep.


Brighouse

Brighouse principal is lead off for Banding Together

September 17 • In a new PR profile initiative for the event, Tom Smith talks about his link to the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall.


Norway

Concerto test for Norwegian elite

September 17 • Flavours of Rumba, Ravel and riotous ostriches courtesy of Derek Bourgeois will test the Elite Division contenders at the 2026 Norwegian National Championships.


National Championships

2026 Regional Championship test-piece announced

September 17 • Works by Martin Ellerby, Andrew Wainwright, Philip Harper, Gordon Langford and Eric Ball will test bands in their qualification bids for the Albert Hall and Cheltenham next year.


Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Dobcross Silver Band - Milnrow Band

Sunday 21 September • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - The Brass Band Conference

Saturday 27 September • Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham DH1 4BE


Haverhill Silver Band

September 17 • Haverhill Silver Band (Championship Section) seeks a FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band for the L&SC area contest, the Senior Cup, Whit Friday and beyond.


Cheltenham Silver Band

September 16 • Required:. Musical Director : Cheltenham Silver Academy Band Following the relocation of our current conductor we are looking for a progressive, passionate and dedicated individual to lead our Academy Band, and to support our continued improvement.


Chinnor Silver

September 16 • We need a Bass player (either Bb or Eb) and a percussionist to join our happy team! The band is promoted to the first section in 2026 and were also 2025 Second section National Finalists. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in our own bandroom in Chinnor


Gordon Eddison

B Ed (Hons). Member AoBBA.
Conductor and Adjudicator.


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd