The New Zealand Brass Band Competition was held in Hamilton this year. This was the 139th contest, making this iconic event one of the world’s oldest running music competitions.
According to the Brass Band Association of New Zealand, the first contest was held on the 17th of April 1880 with an audience of 2500 people held in the Christchurch Drill Hall. Six bands competed and the audience chose the winner, Invercargill Garrison Band, under the command of Captain W.E. Heywood.
If you want to read more about this history of the competition you can go here: https://www.brassbanz.org
This year there were a whopping 37 bands competing for the titles including Chicago Brass Band who travelled to our corner of the world to compete which was fantastic. The Claudelands Event Centre was a great venue and the contest committee did a superb job on the organisation of the contest. Steven has been competing at New Zealand Brass Band Competition since arriving in New Zealand in 2006.
We’re excited to announce, drum roll…..Steven won the open baritone class with a score of 98 making him the NZ National Baritone Champion for 2019, a title he’s won 11 times! He’s now happily caught up with former baritone champion Gary Bilton, who’s also won the title 11 times. The two have enjoyed lots of banter over the years regards Steven catching up to Gary.
Steven was also a runner up last night in The Invitation Slow Melody, hot on the heels of Chris Laurence who took home first prize. Congratulations Chris!