City bands among top brass

Whanganui Brass junior and senior bands (including WHS Music teacher Brent Holt and student Caleb Squire. Luke Squire was absent from the photo) returned triumphant from the recent regional competitions in Wellington.
Photo / Supplied

Whanganui brass players did their city proud at the recent Combined Central and Wellington District Associations Brass Band Contest in Wellington.

The senior Brass Whanganui band and the concert brass band made up of young and beginner adult players travelled to Wellington for the contest and musical director Bruce Jellyman said he was proud of how well everyone played.

"Concert Brass came first in the youth/junior entertainment section.

"They played so well and we are very proud of them.

"Jonathan Greenwell directed and he was very good."

The senior band also excelled, coming second in the Hymn contest, third in the Own Choice, second in the Entertainment and second in the Aggregate results.

When competing in regional and national contests, Whanganui Brass always run into former members now playing with their competitors.

"Quite a few of our members go to Victoria or the University of Wellington as it is now called so we often meet them at contests," says Jellyman.

There are three former Brass Whanganui players in Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington bands and Tamara Stratton now plays tenor horn with the Wellington Brass Band.

The competition is always friendly and fun, says the Whanganui director.

"We finished the weekend second to New Zealand champions Wellington which makes us the top B grade band.

"It was a great result and exactly what we hoped for."

By Liz Wylie
Wanganui Chronicle 25/9/18