Press Release:
Wellington Brass Band wins 2021 National Brass Band Championship Title
Returning home Champions again!
The oldest National Championships in the banding world took place in Christchurch as the ‘Festival of Brass’ with the highest number of participants in 30 years. WBB returned to the contest stage bringing the seventh New Zealand A Grade victory in the past nine years.
Musical Director David Bremner led the youthful ensemble (featuring 12 National debutants) displayed a remarkable degree of musical maturity to once again claim the famous Gold Cup trophy, as well as the KGL Smith Cup, presented to the winning conductor.
The Chief Adjudicator (of Wellington) David Gallagher remarked on the high standard of the contest choosing a winning performance that was “ a 'musical entity' displaying breadth and balance”. The band added the prizes for topping the Test-Piece and Sacred Item categories, whilst principal cornet Toby Pringle took the 'Outstanding Soloist' accolade in the set-work and their flugel/horn team the 'Best Section'.
A band of youthful talent, the next generation of Wellington brass players are nurtured through Buzzing Brass directed by Byron Newton. The audience was treated in an entertainment-style contest format the band winning the Youth Section.
Musical Director David Bremner says - “It was very special to be back on the contest stage after last years event cancellations, and returning to Christchurch performing in a world-class venue. It was tough contest to win, with great competition through all the grades. With a youthful band, it was fantastic to work with our future with many contest firsts, we enjoyed the challenge of crafting our performances”
The National Brass Band Championships returns to Wellington in 2022, and the Wellington Brass Bands looks forward to future successes on home turf.
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