Brass band nationals take music outside (+video)

The Rotorua Brass Band ensemble performing at the New Zealand National Brass Championships. Photo / Stephen Parker

You may have heard various tones of tooting down Fenton St, as the New Zealand Brass Band Championships got underway at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre.

Young and old from as far as Invercargill and Melbourne arrived yesterday with their instruments to perform and be judged until Sunday.

Brass Band Association of New Zealand executive officer Helen Lee said she expected around 900 participants and supporters at the annual competition.

"We rotate venues around the country every year. We are always a mix of ages, old and young, and families. It's a real family hobby."

She said there was a high calibre of performers.

"It's their hobby but they do it with a passion. They are amateur musicians but they are so good you would be surprised at the quality. A lot of people performing are of the same quality as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and a lot of people perform in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra or the New Zealand Youth Orchestra, so they are comparable in standard, and there are lots of young people here."

She said performers had put a lot of time and effort into attending the competition, which had many free events, including a parade of bands tomorrow down Kuirau St, Pukuatua St and Whakatau St.

Members of the Rotorua Brass Band played in the open ensemble section in a group of five yesterday afternoon.

E flat bass, or tuba, player Stephen Webb said the performance went really well.

"It is good to have the competition local. This was just our ensemble piece, the whole band is playing on Friday with the street march and again on Saturday morning."

It was the first time the Rotorua Brass Band had played in the Championships since 2004, Mr Webb said. "There has definitely been a renewed interest in the band, there are some very enthusiastic players."

- For more information visit www.brassbanz.org.nz.