Family, friends and community stakeholders packed into the St Kilda Band Rooms on Thursday night for an open evening given by the Southern Brass Academy (SBA).

The SBA Development and Senior Ensembles performed a number of pieces during the evening, displaying the progress that they have made throughout 2008.

The evening was also an opportunity for awards to be presented to a number of pupils.

Exam success

There were recent successes with Associated Board examinations; Stephie Tay being awarded Grade 4 Trumpet with Merit, Rose Evans Grade 4 Flugel with Distinction, Nicholas Swindells Grade 6 Trombone with Distinction and Kalie Eathorne-Gould Grade 6 Cornet with Distinction.

Academy Awards

Pupil of the Term awards were given to the 4 outstanding pupils of each term in 2008; Term 1 going to Alice Neilson (Cornet) of Taieri High School, Term 2 going to Solomon Baldock (Trumpet) of Macandrew Bay School, Term 3 going to Harry Smith (Euphonium) of St Clair School and Term 4 going to Kalie Eathorne-Gould (Cornet) of Kavanagh College.

Pupils were presented with their certificates and prize of cinema tickets.

The inaugural annual awards; ‘Most Promising Pupil’ and ‘Outstanding Pupil’ went to Harry Smith (Euphonium) of St Clair School and Kalie Eathorne-Gould (Cornet) of Kavanagh College respectively.

The future of brass playing in Dunedin is certainly looking bright.