Australian Concert Bands

I was at the NSW Concert Band titles today, (Saturday) playing with the Hills Academy. The Open C Grade was won by the band that finished second to Port Macquarie last year, South Pacific. Only two bands in the grade and it was a tie, but South Pacific won on a countback from the test.
The open B Grade was won by Castle Hill RSL Youth Band and this band on the day would have gone close to winning A Grade, they were that good. Sutrherland PCYC, just put down from A Grade were second and Hills Academy were third out of six bands entered.
I couldn't stay for the A grade but there were only two bands, North West winds (Castle Hill RSL) and Sydney Schools Wind Ensemble. City of Sydney withdrew apparantly due to lack of percussion players.
I still can't get over the sound that the winning B grade band made. They were on fire.

Hey Hornist

Thanks for posting those! I was wondering how they went!

What other band was in C Grade? Congrats to South Pacific! They are a really strong band, and i thought for sure that they were going to win last year!

Do you have a list of what bands were entered?

Cheers

Ben

Actually the only other band in C Grade was Bathurst which was the band that last year tried to play that swing number as their own choice and were slammed by the adjudicator.
I doubt if South Pacific were the same band they were last year as they lost their conductor and several players.

Thanks so much hornist!
I played horn with the CHRSL Youth Band and had a great time! Your kind words are very appreciated!

I really enjoyed the percussion in Hills' Vesuvius




SCORES:
open D
penrith valley - 30, 174, 173 = 377 (1)

open C
bathurst city - 36, 183, 181 = 400
south pacific - 33, 185, 182 = 400 (1)

open B
sutherland - 37, 188, 187 = 412 (2)
CHRSL YB - 39, 191, 190 = 420 (1)
Muswellbrook - 35, 185, 185 = 405
Campbelltown-camden - 34, 179, 182 = 395
HMA - 35, 186, 185 = 406 (3)
penrith valley - 32, 180, 179 = 391

open A
sswe - 47, 197, 198 = 442 (1)
north west wind ensemble - 44, 193, 194 = 431 (2)
city band - scratched



Also played with NWWE and I must say that we were on fire. I wish I could've heard SSWE's 11-point-better performance!

Thats right! i believe the adjudicator said about Bathurst's choice was 'that anyone can play a popular piece and get great applause from the crowd' or something like that

Pity about South Pacific. They were sounding great!

Are they going to Nats?

Does anyone know if it was recorded?

Each band apparantly got a CD of their performance with the adjudicators comments on it.
Not sure about South Pacific and the Nationals.
I found out after last year's State that the conductor of South Pacific Lloyd Edge who WAS doing wonders for that band was hauled up in front of the committee of South Pacific and pulled over the coals because he used two supposedly A Grade horn players as their permits. I was one of those players and I have never played with an A Grade band in my life. With an attitude like that no wonder Lloyd told them where to put their band.

But 2 players dont make a band!! Even if they are in one section. At best, if they were 2 A grade players, you would have a really strong Horn section. Even if they were in 2 sections, playing the first part, it takes more than that to make a band!!

At our band, the committee (which im on) doesnt try to run the 'music' side of it. Thats what we employ an MD for and let him do what he needs to do to make the band sound great. Our job is to make his job easier!!! I hope that makes sense!

So, if the MD made the decision to get 2 permit players (which are allowed!) then so what?! He recognised a potential weakness in the band, and took steps to fill it. I mean, there would be few bands that didnt use permit players!!! Its all part of the game!

Exactly Ben. If you're allowed to get permit players, why not try to get ones that will compliment your band? What's the point of finding players who might not be up to the task, especially since most times, permit players don't make as many rehearsals as the regular band members and as such, don't know the charts nearly as well. As the other horn player that played with South Pacific last year, I can say it wasn't a stroll in the park, no matter which grade I was permitted from. CHRSL Youth band has no horns and so used the entire North West horn section as their permits. I hope no one complains about that!

As long as the permits were filled in correctly and didnt exceed the number, who cares?! Its legal isnt it?!

I permitted with Lane Cove at East Coast this year and it was a blast! Met a heap of nice people, got to play with a B Grade band (we're C) and also was playing Timpani which was awesome!! The music was pretty hard, and I certainly had to keep my wits about me to keep me from making too many mistakes!!!

What im getting at is that permitting is a great thing! We permitted a couple of horns in 2006, and now they are regular players who dont miss anything. At the very least, you get to meet people in other bands and learn new pieces!

hey....horn players being permitted again...? maybe theres something about horn players....

Maybe it is something about horn players Ben. Every time I see or teach a young horn player I always tell them that the world needs horn players and if they stick to it, there are a lot of opportunities out there for them. I know Ive earnt and still continue to do so, a lot of money playing horn and that's not full time. (or in an A grade band)

As far as permits go, I know of a B Grade Brass band playing next weekend that is using two A Grade permit players. One of them plays professionally and the other plays semi professionally. Another one of their signings for the contest is a trumpet player that plays with the Sydney Symphony. This may not be in the spirit of playing B Grade brass, but the rules say they can do it so they are in effect doing nothing wrong.

I hope the committee at South Pacific don't see this band, they will have a heart attack. Jeez...

I'll be glad when all the contesting is over for the year so the bands I play with can get out in front of the public and play some entertaining music and not stuff that looks like fly droppings all over the page and goes at 200 miles an hour.

In a way i am glad that the contest is over, both concert and brass. But very happy with the bands i played with and loved watching a high standard of music all round.

there are a few Photos of the MYB and the BMCB up on the front page of our website from states and the penrith esdidfod the week before. http://www.bmcb.net.au

Jeez mate, I'll have to watch my backside, with you playing horn in the Mountains Band.

i know. i still have not figured out what that thumb trigger is for yet!

Horns are nice, good parts to play and you can hide a few rows back. plus if there are some wrong notes you can always point to the Alto Sax's.