Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band

Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band has won the New Zealand B-grade brass band championship title for the second year running. Conductor David Bremner said he was very proud of the band for its consistently high-level of contest performances. "I'm looking forward to the possibility of the band being promoted to the A grade", he said, when the band returned to Wellington.

The 2008 NZ Brass Band Championships were held in Christchurch from 9-13 July. Most of the band flew down on Wednesday and we were met at the airport by were met at the airport with a Richies Coachlines bus driven by the parents of the band's executive officer Martyn Smith. They had driven down from Blenheim to chauffeur the band around for the week.

We had a quick trip into Christchurch to our digs at St. Margaret's College. The band borrowed the Woolston Band's bandroom for some practices, but also practiced in the college chapel. Once again, David had prepared the band so well that we didn't have to spend hours practicing at the contest. On Wednesday and Thursday our junior soloists and senior soloists were occupied with their solos.

The first band event was the Sacred Item and Test on Friday morning. The band came third equal (with Timaru) in the Sacred Item, playing Downey's 'In Perfect Peace'. In the Test, which was Peter Graham's 'Renaissance', the band placed first.

In Friday afternoon's Parade of Bands (the marching contest), Wellington led the B grade around the circuit. Well actually, we paid a man in a furry dog suit to lead the band through the parade. David Bremner had this job in the Australian contest. We think the children watching preferred the dog. The band improved its performance on the march this year, coming 5th.

The band's Own Choice on Saturday was Lloyd's 'Variations on a Bass Theme', one of a wide range of own choices in the B grade. The band gave a sterling performance, coming first again.

On aggregate Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass were two points clear of the field, winning the New Zealand B grade championship again. For the third contest in a row, David Bremner had to return to the stage again and again to collect trophies.

The band capped off a successful week by entering the 'Band of the Year' contest on the Sunday of contest week. It was slightly odd for the players to remain behind whilst most other bands cleared off home. The other two entries (Woolston Brass and Canterbury Brass) are Christchurch A-grade bands, so Wellington Brass Band was complimented by its acceptance in the event. The band played an entertaining programme, ably introduced by Simon Hocking, with a bit of jazz, a stunning euphonium solo (Brilliante) by David Chaulk and some fine ensemble playing.

It was with some relief that the band dragged itself to the airport with instruments and trophies in tow – it had been a long, successful week.

The band’s performance received favourable reviews on the 4barsrest website (http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2008/art875b.asp). The contest results are available at the Brass Bands Association of NZ website http://www.brassnz.co.nz/cont08res_bands.html.

Videos of the Band's performance are available on The Music Page website. The individual pieces are linked here:

HYMN Downey - In Perfect Peace http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1122
TEST - Peter Graham - Renaissance http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1119
OWN CHOICE Lloyd - Variations on a Bass Theme http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1151

BAND OF THE YEAR
Farr - Intrada from Ein Feste Burg http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1137
Sandoval - Mambo Caliente http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1138
Peter Graham - Brilliante http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1139
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1140
Rimsky-Korsakov - Kaleidoscope http://www.themusicpage.com/showVideos.php?v=1141