Wellington Brass win third consecutive National title
The Wellington Brass Band, under musical director David Bremner, have won the National Brass Band Championships in Christchurch, the band's third consecutive win and seventh win in the last decade.
NZSM students, artist teachers and staff took part in the contest performances, with Wellington Brass edging out Christchurch's Woolston Brass by one and a half points.
In addition, the band added the prizes for topping the Test-Piece and Sacred Item categories, whilst NZSM alumnus Toby Pringle took the 'Outstanding Soloist' accolade in the set-work and their flugel/horn team the 'Best Section'.
An intuitively structured rendition of the reflective, 'Just As I Am', followed by a majestic account of Edward Gregson's 'Of Men and Mountains' gave them the cushion on which to deliver an absorbing performance of Philip Wilby's imposing 'Revelation' to secure a narrow, but decisive victory.