Saturday 18 April
Municipal Theatre, Napier
Adjudicator: Professor David King

Commenced 5.00pm

8. North Shore Brass, Peter Adams
Harmony Music, Sparke
Some intonation issues, splits and general insecurites spoil an otherwise decent performance. Good job sop, solo cornet and horn. Not in the top 4 frame for us, though.

7. St Kilda Brass, Steve Miles
On Alderley Edge, Peter Graham
Tentative opening with insecurities. Fantastic work from front row cornets. Band gains strength in louder tutti sections. Not this bands best day — high error rate.

6. Ascot Park Hotel Brass, David Gallagher
Albion, Jan van der Roost
Tidy and rhythmic. Warm band sounds. Overall improvement on yesterdays performance from the band as an ensemble as well as the soloists. Solo cornet played beautifully. A well chosen work, but not good enough to challenge the leading 5 bands we think.

5. Dalewool Auckland Brass, Howard Taylor
Vienna Nights, Wilby
Some very good playing — but also some tentative moments in the more thinly scored and quieter sections. Very tasteful duet work. Not quite convincing today, and without the strong bass foundation overall band sound was unbalanced lacking warmth. Would think this performance might put them behind Woolston, Marlborough & Pelorus at this point.

4. Woolston Brass, Graham Hickman
Dreams, Moren
Exciting opening with huge sounds. Technically brilliant. Outstanding choice for this band. Very good playing from all key chair soloists. Rhythmic drive so strong. This is the best we have heard this band play. Ahead by a country mile.

3. Marlborough District Brass, Kevin Moseley
Concertino for Band, Downie
Technically demanding choice. Not always convincing early on, but generally tight playing and good sounds. Some fine individual playing from key chair players. Some intonation issues in horn section but ever so minor. Very convincing final movement. A full mature sounding band with some exciting moments. Head of the pack at this point.

2. The Trusts Waitakere Brass, Steven Booth
Own Choice: Contest Music, Heaton
Steady, safe start. This piece requires an outstanding cornet section for it to come off — brave choice. Good work flugel. Controlled playing in slow movement with some insecurities. The band settles in the 3rd movement after an early hiccup. Louder dynamic forced. Warm eupho/horn sounds. Fair gap separating this performance from the first band for the day.

1. Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass, David Bremner
Own Choice: Lowry Sketchbook, Wilby
Lovely warm tutti sounds. This band's sound is quite unique. Accurate though clarity not always at its best in 1st movement. Effective percussion. Very atmospheric. Great work in 3rd movement — plenty of detail heard here and stylistic. This sets a high benchmark for the day.