With no Queensland titles this year, and a low number of entries in the A Grade sections in other states, New South Wales is the place to be this coming weekend if you are looking for some quality competition.
The line-up is strong, and word is that Kew Band Melbourne under new MD, Steve Bastable, will be setting a new benchmark in playing standards downunder.
A Grade tussle
However, their quest for the title may not come too easily. Matthew van Emmerik has been doing some good work with Waratah, Paul Terracini, new MD for defending champions St Mary's, is an excellent musician and conductor, Warringah has some solid players and is becoming a fine band with the added benefit of some recent workshops with Prof King, Willoughby and Holroyd, as always, will be well drilled and acutely aware of the competition.
The competition is missing Gunnedah Shire Band, who have once again elected not to compete in the state championship.
Own Choice music
A Grade own choice music includes Between the Moon and Mexico (Sparke), The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Bourgeois), Visions of Gerontius (Downie), Montage (Graham), The Year of the Dragon (Sparke), and Dances and Arias (Gregson).
Choices in other grades include Harmony Music (Sparke), Trittico for Brass Band (Curnow), The Year of the Dragon (Sparke), Northern Landscapes (Graham), Variations on Maccabeus (Norbury), Music of Thanksgiving (Downie), Seven Wonders (Bloomfield), Royal Parks (Lloyd), Anglican Dances (Fernie), From the New World Symphony(Anton Dvorak arr. D. Rimmer), English Folksongs Suite (R. Vaughan Williams arr. Frank Wright), Firestorm (Bulla), Images For Brass (Bulla), Oregon (Jacob de Haan)
Adjudicator for the weekend is Mark Ford from Melbourne.
A Grade
Test: Spectrum, Gilbert Vinter
City of Holroyd Band, Mark Strykowski
Kew Band Melbourne, Steve Bastable
St Marys Band Club Brass Band, Paul Terracini
Waratah Brass — Newcastle, Matthew van Emmerik
Warringah Concert Brass, John Saunders
Willoughby City Band, Andrew Snell
B Grade
Test: A Day In the Life of a Knight, Phil Lawrence
Hall Village Brass Band, Aaron Madden
Parramatta City Band, Jonathan Gatt
Sutherland Shire Brass, Warwick Tyrrell
C Grade
Test: Kaleidoscope, Philip Sparke
Bankstown City Brass Band, Rae Forrester
Blacktown City Band, Bill Belcher OAM
City of Wollongong Brass, Phil Eades
CNL Brass, Ron Boaden
Yagoona District Band, Kevin Skues
D Grade
Test: Partita, Philip Wilby
Brisbane Water Brass Band, Jonathan Gatt
City Of Holroyd Band, Shaun Yow
Liverpool City Brass Band, Eddie Claxton
Junior A
Test: Valerius Variations, Philip Sparke
Gunnedah Shire Band, Laurence Rowe
Willoughby City, Brian McGuinness
Junior B Brass
Test: Cry of the Falcon, Kevin Houben
Warringah Youth, John Saunders
Benchmark
The BANSW has been gaining strength throughout the year and are quietly becoming known around Australia as being one of the most proactive and progressive Associations.
Keen to show their administrative strength, this weekend is a great opportunity to see the team in action.
