*
banner

Soloist Success

The 2008 Sydney Metropolitan Band Branch Solo & Ensemble contest was held last weekend.

Harry Woods Memorial Trust winners
 

The solo and ensemble contest, held at the Bankstown Grammar School, received a total of 214 entries from 22 bands. Entries increased in the order of 35% on last year’s competition and the Branch was extremely pleased with this response.

The Branch was proud to introduce three new adjudicators to the competition – Darrell Hodges, Lauren Moule and Bev Newitt.

Each of these adjudicators is a very experienced musician who took the opportunity to attend an adjudicator’s workshop held late last year, conducted for the Branch by Andrew Snell.

They joined the adjudication panel headed by Andrew Snell and Robert Bedwell who are both highly respected for their knowledge of musical performance assessment.

The Sydney Metropolitan Band Branch would like to thank all the band members who entered the competition and, as with all band contests, we are indebted to our strong group of volunteers who support us each year and ensure the success of this event.

Perpetual trophy winners at the contest were:
Harry Woods Memorial Award (Combined Brass Instruments) and Mollie Neale Memorial Award (Under 13 Slow Melody): Dominic Longhurst, City of Holroyd Brass.

Aub Owens Trophy (Under 15 Any Brass Instrument: Cameron Robertson, City of Holroyd

Ken Luzzi Memorial Award (Under 15 Slow Melody): Cameron Robertson, Castle Hill RSL Youth Band

H.J.Cartledge Trophy (Under 19 Any Brass Instrument): Chris Moran, Sutherland PCYC Concert Band

Sydney Metropolitan Band Branch Trophy (Under 19 Any Woodwind or Reed Instrument): Jennifer Rhodes, Meriden School Concert Band

T.E.Gawn Trophy (Open Concerto): Jeffrey Ma, Willoughby Band

Clifford Family Trophy (Australian Composition Open Solo): Brian McGuinness, Willoughby Band

Open Slow Melody: Nicky Abkiewicz, City of Holroyd

Cath Hagerty Memorial Award (Under 11 Any Instrument): Sean Hou, St. George Brass

Jack Williams Memorial Award (Under 15 Any Woodwind Inst.): Yeri Kim, Meriden School Concert Band

Sydney Metropolitan Aggregate Shield (Most successful Band): City of Holroyd Band

City of Holroyd scored a total of 52 points in the aggregate shield competition for their first ever win of the shield.

Meriden School Concert Band finished only 1 point behind City of Holroyd with Warringah Concert Brass finishing third.

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    


NABBA

America looks at benefits of a slimmer musical diet

June 9 • The North American Brass Band Championships are considering new timing considerations for own-choice test-pieces at National Championships.


James MacmIllan

Monarch honours MacMillan

June 9 • Composer Sir James Macmillan becomes a member of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.


BrwookWright

BrookWright Music launches Solo Contest

June 9 • Leading music publisher launches bespoke solo competition for all brass instruments


Boax

Boax adds to Cory strength

June 9 • The Welsh champion continues to strengthen its ranks with the arrival of new solo baritone player Charlie Boax.


Regent Hall Concerts - Take 5 Brass Quintet

Friday 12 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Celebrating the Music of Malcolm Bennett

Sunday 14 June • Venue-Mark Village Hall, Vole Road, Mark-TA9 4NY. . TA9 4NY


Barnsley Brass - Black Dyke Band

Thursday 25 June • St Mary's Church. Church Street. Barnsley S70 2AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Junior Guildhall Brass Band

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Royal Sackbut Collective

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Tintwistle Band

June 9 • Tintwistle Band are looking for a 2nd horn player to help complete the team. . We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm under the baton of our MD Jim Henson, at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Crewe Brass

June 5 • Crewe Brass are looking for PERCUSSION PLAYERS (TUNED and KIT) to join our highly motivated 4th section band. We are a very welcoming and sociable band, with a positive outlook and a reasonably busy calendar of engagements. Other enquiries are welcome.


Glossop Old Band

June 5 • Our friendly second section band are looking for a BB bass player to join us for contests, concerts and exciting new projects. Glossop Old Band is situated between Manchester and Sheffield and rich in history


Andreas Kratz

Mus.B (hons)
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd