North Shore Brass has made New Zealand history by being the first organisation to enter three bands into the New Zealand Brass Band Championships this month.
Over 75 musicians travelled to Hamilton to compete across three grades with podium finishes for all three bands.
“Our newly formed Takapuna Youth Brass, under conductor Mark Close, were the champion youth band of New Zealand in their first outing at a national’s” says band president Owen Melhuish. “Makaleta Tuipolou (Euphonium) was also awarded the top soloist for her work across the three pieces that the band was required to perform” says Melhuish.
Meanwhile the North Shore Brass Academy Band, under conductor Steve Foster, was second in the hymn test and third overall in the D grade in their first nationals as well.
The principal cornet of the Academy Band had earlier been judged the junior cornet champion and then the junior champion of champions for New Zealand. Liam Wright (pictured) performed for three judges at the Claudelands Event Centre to beat 10 other finalists.
“This young man, from Westlake Boys High School, is only 15 and has a wonderful future ahead of him in music. He is in the 2019 National Secondary Schools Brass Band and was chosen also for the National Youth Brass Band earlier this year” says Melhuish
In the senior solos local businessman Andrew Leech was award the champion euphonium player of New Zealand.
The pinnacle for the North Shore Brass family was the performance of the A grade band North Shore Brass under Colin Clark where the band stormed their back into third place across all disciplines – sacred item, A grade test and the own choice selection. “To be crowned the third best brass band in New Zealand is no small accolade – it is wonderful achievement from a fine group of musicians” say president Melhuish.
“In addition the principal cornet of the band Harmen Vanhoorne was awarded the Gilbert Evans Memorial Trophy for best principal cornet in the own choice event where the band played a magnificent piece called Fraternity, a descriptive piece about a coal mining disaster in France.” says Melhuish.
“North Shore Brass can rightly be proud of making history and also of the results in what is a tough competition of world standards” he says.

 

Owen Melhuish e: owen@mortgagesupply.co.nz p : 021 281 0405