Thirty three bands and over 200 soloists will compete in this years New Zealand National Brass Band Championships, to be held in Christchurch 9-13 July.

Bands to travel across the Tasman include Brisbane Brass, defending champions Brisbane Excelsior, and Moreland City Band from Melbourne.

There is strong representation in all grades with the exception of Junior Grade which this year, disappointingly has no bands entered.

Dalewool Auckland Brass advised contest organisers late last week of its intention to withdraw from the championships.

Chief Adjudicator is Simone Rebello from the UK.

4BRDU will once again be providing pre-contest coverage, as well as live coverage of the A Grade events and all results.

The bands competing are:

A Grade
Ascot Park Hotel Brass
Brisbane Brass, Aus
Brisbane Excelsior, Aus
Canterbury Brass
Marlborough District Brass
Moreland City Band, Aus
North Shore Brass
St Kilda Brass
The "Trusts" Waitakere Brass
Woolston Brass

B Grade
Addington Brass
Alpine Energy Timaru Brass
Castle Trust Hamilton Brass
Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass
New Plymouth Brass
Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass
Port of Napier Brass
Titan Hutt City Brass
Trust Porirua City Brass

C Grade
Ascot Park Hotel Auxiliary Brass
Levin and Districts Brass
Mosgiel Brass
Palmerston North City Brass
Papakura City Brass
Smiths Locksmiths Manukau City Brass
Te Awamutu Brass
Westport Municipal Brass
Woolston Concert Brass

D Grade
Motueka Municipal Band
New Brighton Silver Band
Rangiora Brass
Roxburgh Pioneer Generation Brass
Sumner Silver Band

4BRDU has been asked by the BBANZ to withhold naming the musical directors of each band.

For more detail on the contest go to http://www.brassnz.co.nz/chchmain.html