Brass Whanganui promoted to top level of national competition

Brass Whanganui are marching back to the top of the national rankings. Photo / Lewis Gardner

Brass Whanganui is returning to the top level of the national brass band competition, after a string of impressive results in B Grade over the past three years.

There are four competition grades - A, B, C and D.

Musical director Bruce Jellyman said the promotion meant Brass Whanganui was now recognised as one of the top 10 bands in the country.

"We missed one contest last year because of Covid, but aside from that our results have been first, third, first," Jellyman said.

"So, up we go. What's the difference? Well, the music is harder for a start."

Jellyman said he had attended most national contests since 1971 and still got a thrill out of listening to top bands such as Wellington Brass and Woolston Brass.

"That's what we are aspiring to do, and now we get to rub shoulders with them.

"We're happy about going up, and that's because membership is stable, we've got good players who are progressing up and there is really good team development going on in the band."

They will make their first appearance in the A Grade at next year's nationals in Wellington.

There are currently three full bands in the Whanganui set-up - Brass Whanganui, Concert Brass, and the junior band.

Unlike years gone by, people aren't leaving the band, and Whanganui itself, in significant numbers, and some had even returned to the fold.

The band was crowned B Grade national champion this year. Photo / Supplied

Jellyman said that was a reflection of the strength of the city as a whole at the moment.

"We are in a really good position, and I feel comfortable about going to play with the big boys.

"I would expect to beat one or two in the first year, to say 'yep, we should be here'."

There were four events that Brass Whanganui participated in on a national level, Jellyman said.

"There's a reflective hymn-type piece, then there's a test piece, which is the one that everybody has to play.

"After that there's the street march, and we are the second best marching band in the country anyway, regardless of grade, behind Woolston."

Then the final one is Own Choice, a substantial piece of music of Jellyman's choosing.

"The more I talk and think about [it], the more excited I get."

Another bonus of the band's promotion was getting a later start time at competitions, Jellyman said.

The band was on stage at 8.30am at this year's national champs in Christchurch.

"The process on stage is highly intellectual, and you're playing music that pushes everybody to the edge of their ability," Jellyman said.

"One has to start getting ready at 5am when you're in the B Grade, just so it feels like lunchtime by the time you get on stage."

Jellyman said the band would be celebrating its promotion with a traditional concert at Heritage House on October 31.