Historic placing for brass band

NBS Nelson City Brass has taken out second place in the A Grade section of the National Band Competition – the highest placing for the band in their 166 year history.

The event, which took place on Saturday night in Auckland, saw them compete against top bands from around the country and overseas, including bands from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Tonga.

While Wellington Brass came out on top, the Nelson band excelled in many of the individual sections of the competition, gaining an aggregate score that put them into second place for the first time.

In the own choice section, the band came third behind Wellington Brass and North Shore Brass. In the set test piece and sacred item competition, the band came second behind Wellington Brass. They also came third in the A Grade street march.

Individual band members also shined at the competition, with Mike Ford and Kay MacKenzie picking up awards.

Band conductor Nigel Weeks says the band had a “great build-up” to the competition and right from the first performance he “felt this was going to be a special time for the band”.

“We have wonderful soloists who all clicked, and the band was really relaxed on stage with a great combination of experienced and younger players. It was a real team effort.

“The music was extremely difficult to play but the end result has been amazing -  the band’s greatest result to date!”

Nelson City Brass was established in 1857 and is one of the oldest brass bands in New Zealand. In the last seven years the band has progressed from the C grade competition to now become one of the top two bands in the country.